Department of Health
Health Information
Child Health Woman Health
Health Information >> Classified by Topics >> Child Health
* Classified by Topics

  Protect A Baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Download

WHAT IS SIDS? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS, is the sudden unexpected death of a baby during sleep. No cause of death is found. SIDS usually happens during the first 6 months of life. Fortunately SIDS is rare in Hong Kong (1-3 babies out of every 10,000 babies born). Although the cause remains unknown, research has found ways to reduce the risk. Around the world, thousands of babies have been protected from SIDS where their parents follow the guidelines below.
WAYS TO HELP PROTECT A BABY FROM SIDS Place your baby on the back to sleep
In Hong Kong most parents do this anyway which is probably why the SIDS rate is low here. The back sleeping position is twice as safe as the side and six times safer than the front for a baby. Many research studies have now shown this.
Give your baby a smokefree start to life Where both parents are smokefree during pregnancy and in the first 12 months of life, protection from SIDS is doubled for a baby. Poisons from cigarettes cross the placenta and reach a baby during pregnancy. Also, smoking around a baby harms their fragile airways - ears, nose, throat and lungs. It can lead to illness such as asthma, ear and other infections, breathing problems, and problems with breastfeeding.
Keep your baby's face and head uncovered during sleep A baby's face and head are important for breathing and cooling during sleep. They can become covered by loose bedding or if the baby wriggles down under thick fluffy bedcovers. Placing the baby's feet at the foot of the cot may help to prevent this from happening.
A firm mattress and under-bedding is important in case a baby rolls onto the front when asleep. Research has shown that covers over the head or face, and soft sleeping surfaces if babies are on their front, can increase a baby's risk of SIDS.
WAYS TO KEEP BABY SAFE DURING SLEEP Position: Lay baby on back with face up Air: Clean air that is smoke free Surface: Avoid soft surfaces like water beds and bean bags Bedding: Avoid loose covers and large soft pillows
Face: Make sure face and head stay uncovered Mattress: Use a firm well-fitting mattress Feet: Place baby's feet at the foot of the cot.
OTHER SIDS ISSUES SHARING A BED WITH A BABY Parents in many cultures like to sleep together with their babies and there may be benefits from this, such as improved breastfeeding. However research has found that some situations make bed sharing unsafe for babies.
*There is a link to an increased risk of SIDS from bed sharing if the mother is a smoker. *There is also an increased risk of suffocation during bedsharing if adults have reduced awareness after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, are very tired or are obese. *Soft mattresses, loose bedding and large soft pillows may also cause babies to roll onto the front or get their faces or heads covered.
If either the mother or father smoke or if any of these other factors are present then babies are probably safer sleeping in their own bed but close by their parents in the same room.
ROOMSHARING Babies who sleep in the same room as their parents may be protected from SIDS. Sharing a room with your baby is also good for promoting successful breastfeeding.
BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, although it is not clear how much this is due to the type of mother who breastfeeds or to the breastfeeding itself. However it is clear that breastfeeding a baby protects against illness and has many other benefits, so where possible breastfeed your baby.
PACIFIERS Sucking a pacifier may help prevent SIDS. More research is needed to clarify this finding. However research has also shown that sucking a pacifier may interfere with successful breastfeeding.
IMMUNIZATION Babies who are immunized may have a reduced risk of SIDS. Immunizations also have many other health benefits for your baby.
PLEASE NOTE
- Place your baby on the back to sleep
-Give your baby a smokefree start -Keep your baby's face and head uncovered during sleep
If you want to know more health information, you can dial 28330111, the 24 hour health education hotline of the Department of Health (in Cantonese, English and Putonghua), or visit our website http://www. info.gov.hk/healthzone

 
  Back Back to Top  
 
 

Last revision date: 01 September 2006