It is very normal to have thoughts or concerns about SIDS when becoming a parent. A common reaction is to regularly check the baby's breathing, particularly when they begin to miss feeds and sleep through the night. But because SIDS remains a mystery, at this point we can only work with the factors are known to reduce the risks of SIDS happening. So it is important to incorporate these when placing your baby down to sleep.
The following information outlines the current
National SIDS Council of Australia recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS, as well as their safe sleeping guidelines. Parents, as well as anyone caring for your baby (babysitters, family, friends and childcarers), should follow these guidelines.
NOTE:Be aware that even though the current recommendations can help reduce the overall risk of SIDS in a general population, they may not prevent any one baby dying from SIDS.
The 3 main recommendations based on the research so far are:
Put your baby on their back to sleep from birth
Sleep them with their face uncovered
Keep your baby in a smoke free environment
Put your baby on their back to sleep from birth
The risk of SIDS is increased when babies sleep on their tummies (known as a 'prone position').
The best position for babies to sleep from the time they are born is on their backs.
Lying your baby on their side is also not recommended, mainly because it is more likely they will roll over onto their tummy during sleep. However, as your baby becomes older, they will start to move around in their bed while sleeping. This is normal and expected. It is recommended that you continue to place your baby on their back to sleep, but allow them to find their own sleeping position. If they roll onto their tummy while sleeping, then leave them. Evidence shows that the risk of SIDS in babies over 6 months reduces quite dramatically (often the time babies start to move more freely while sleeping).