Although it is on the decline in Georgia, SIDS death in infants remains high on the list of killers of children, particularly infants under 1 year old.

In 1994, the Back-To-Sleep Campaign was launched by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This campaign, along with recommendations by pediatricians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and parent participation, have helped in the reduction of numbers of infant deaths from SIDS. The Back-To-Sleep Campaign strongly recommends that infants be placed on their backs while sleeping, as stastistics gathered by these various agencies have indicated a strong correlation between sleeping prone (on the stomach) and SIDS.

Since the inception of the SIDS Alliance in 1992 and the beginning of doctors' reccomendations to place babies on their backs to sleep, SIDS death rates have dropped by 43 percent — about 2,000 babies' lives are saved a year.

NICHD and the SIDS Alliance have several reccomendations for keeping an infant safe while sleeping.

Place the Infant on his/her back to sleep

Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib. Hand-me-down or second-hand cribs, heirloom cribs, cradles and bedding may pose safety risks to your baby.

Eliminate soft bedding, fluffy blankets, comforters, pillows or toys from the baby's bed. These can bunch up around the baby's face and cause re-breathing of stale air, which is a contributing factor in SIDS.

Keep the baby's face and head clear of blankets or other coverings. If a blanket is necessary, place the baby's feet at the foot of the crib and wrap the ends of the blanket around the mattress. Be sure that blanket comes no farther up than the baby's chest.

Provide a smoke-free environment for the baby. With the success of the Back-To-Sleep Campaign, environmental smoke has emerged as the most significant risk factor for SIDS. Babies exposed to second-hand smoke during the first year are at twice the risk of SIDS. SIDS risk is increased by the number of smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked, and the length of exposure to the baby.

No one should smoke around your baby.

Parents also should be aware that no one can totally eliminate the risks of SIDS; but following the above guidelines will reduce the risk to their infants. October is SIDS Awareness Month.

For information, visit this website: http://health.state.ga.us/org/sidsmonth

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