Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Final Meeting Report from the Roundtable Session on “Back to Sleep” Co-hosted by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (CFSID) Sunday, October 26, 2008, Niagara Falls, Ontario (PDF version 18 pages - 148.40 KB)

• Joint Statement (1999)

Partners

•  Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Death Syndrome
•  Canadian Paediatric Society

Tips

1. Always place baby on his or her back for every sleep – at night time and nap time.
2. Provide baby with a smoke free environment – both before and after birth.
3. Use a crib that is empty of all toys and bedding (except a fitted sheet) and meets current safety regulations.
4. Have baby sleep in a crib next to parent’s bed for first 6 months.

Brochure

Sleeping Position

SIDS is less common in babies who sleep on their back.

Put your baby to sleep on his or her back on a firm flat surface. You do not need anything special to do this. Babies who sleep on their back are not more likely to choke. Some babies have a medical problem that means they must sleep on their tummy. Ask your doctor which position is best for your child.

When the baby is awake and being watched, some "tummy time" is necessary for the baby's development. This will also avoid temporary flat spots which sometimes develop on the back of their head from lying on their back.

Older babies may be able to turn on their own from their back to their tummy. It is not necessary to force babies to sleep on their back when they are able to turn from their back to their tummy on their own.

Avoid soft mattresses, fluffy pillows, comforters, stuffed toys and bumper pads in the baby's crib as these could prevent proper air circulation around your baby's face. Plastics, such as the manufacturer's mattress wrapping, may also prevent air circulation, and should be removed to reduce the risk of SIDS and also suffocation.

A Smoke- and Drug-Free Environment
Create a smoke- and drug-free environment for your baby before and after birth.

Avoid using drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, crack, cocaine and heroin if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. No one should smoke near your baby, not only for your baby's health, but also to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Dressing Baby For Sleep
Keep your baby warm — not hot.

Babies need to be warm, but they should not become too hot. If the room temperature is right for you, it's right for the baby, too. To check if your baby is too hot, place your hand on the back of his or her neck. Your baby should not be sweating. Use lightweight blankets which you can add or take away according to the room temperature.

Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is good for your baby.

Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It has many benefits and may give some protection against SIDS.

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It is really important that parents who have lost a child due to SIDS should not blame themselves. Until the cause or causes of SIDS are found, research can only show us how to reduce the risks.