5 ms·

You're constantly terrified that they're going to randomly die on you, but the rules for preventing that outcome are straightforward and hard to forget. Changi

by m_eiman 16y ago

You're constantly terrified that they're going to randomly die on you, but the rules for preventing that outcome are straightforward and hard to forget. Changing the recommendation from sleeping face-down to sleeping on the back has reduced the rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or something like that) in Sweden by roughly 80% since 1992. There was a peak at 1.1 per 1000 live births in 1991, and it's now at 0.25 or less (in 2008 it was down to 0.13)[1]. Some babies sleep better face down, but I prefer somewhat uneasy sleep for six to nine months (until they can turn over by themselves) to a tenfold higher risk of death. [1]: (Swedish) http://www.internetmedicin.se/dyn_main.asp?page=1466 http://www.internetmedicin.se/dyn_main.asp?page=1466

jaxn 16y ago
I have 4 kids. They all slept face down. They all lived. The point being, even the stuff we fear in the western world is really pretty unlikely. Feed them, don't drop them and you are pretty much good. (for the first year)
- ekanes 16y ago
  For things that occur so rarely, you can't extrapolate based on your experience. By your logic, we shouldn't get vaccinated because "my 4 cousins didn't, and they lived."
  - runjake 16y ago
    I think that was the OP's point. SIDS is rare and probably has nothing to do with a baby's position.It's a medical guess, at this point. I almost feel irresponsible mentioning this, so let me say that one should always listen to their doctors.
    - m_eiman 16y ago
      SIDS is rare and probably has nothing to do with a baby's position. There's a bunch of research on the subject, and the resulting recommendation is that sleeping on the back is preferred. I haven't read the actual studies, but a bunch are mentioned in the article I linked to: Alm B, Lagercrantz H, Wennergren G. Stop SIDS - sleeping solitary supine, sucking soother, stopping smoking substitutes. Acta Paediatr. 2006 Mar;95(3):260-2. Swedish Medical Research Council State of the Art Conference on the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Proceedings. Gothenburg, 3-5 June 1992. Acta Paediatr Suppl 1993;389(1):1-129. Alm B, Milerad J, Wennergren G, Skjaerven R, Øyen N, Norvenius G, et al. A case-control study of smoking and sudden infant death syndrome in the Scandinavian countries, 1992 to 1995. The Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study. Arch Dis Child 1998;78(4):329-34. Alm B, Norvenius SG, Wennergren G, Skjaerven R, Oyen N, Milerad J, et al. Changes in the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome in Sweden 1973-1996. Arch Dis Child 2001;84(1):24-30. Alm B, Möllborg P, Erdes L, Pettersson R, Aberg N, Norvenius G, Wennergren G. SIDS risk factors and factors associated with prone sleeping in Sweden. Arch Dis Child. 2006;91:915-9. Wennergren G. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatr Pulmonol 2004;37 Suppl 26:110-1. Carpenter RG, Irgens LM, Blair PS, England PD, Fleming P, Huber J, et al. Sudden unexplained infant death in 20 regions in Europe: case control study. Lancet 2004;363(9404):185-91. American Academy of Pediatrics, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Policy Statement. The changing concept of sudden infant death syndrome: diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Pediatrics 2005;116:1245-55. [edit: google the names of the studies and you'll find abstracts or more]
      - runjake 16y ago
        I've read some of the actual studies you've quoted (and others), and they seem to indicate that infants that sleep on their backs fair slightly better in statistics. Some also blame heavier blankets and "bumper pads" (the pads that wrap around the bars at the base of the mattress). As I mentioned elsewhere, my understanding is that it's merely a recommendation based on statistics with no direct correlation. My babies went on their backs, because even a %.001 difference is enough for me to play the game, seeing as I don't know what I'd do if one of them passed away.
        nl 16y ago
        a recommendation based on statistics with no direct correlation "a recommendation based on statistics" usually means there is a correlation. I think you mean that it may not imply causation, which is true of course.
  - jaxn 16y ago
    My point was not as much about how you do or don't die from SIDS, but rather that it is mostly a 1st world problem. We don't worry about cholora or dysentery.
- m_eiman 16y ago
  Even the high number is "only" 1.1 in 1000, so 0.11%. Still, 0.013% is quite a bit lower. My kids haven't had any trouble sleeping on their backs (yet - the young one is only four months), but if they had I think I'd let them sleep face down and just watch them better. There are devices that detect breathing in a baby bed and warn if none is detected for X seconds, which might ease the minds of worried parents - regardless if face up/down.
runjake 16y ago
I haven't heard any solid research behind the back vs. face down approach, and I don't believe any currently exists. This recommendation apparently comes due to raw statistics until some better data can be gathered. That said, I'm not a gambler and my kids when on their backs. Then they wanted to sleep face down, now they sleep on their backs again (I have infant triplets). I wish there was more solid data on SIDS, but it's apparently proven a difficult area of study.

by m_eiman 16y ago

jaxn 16y ago

I have 4 kids. They all slept face down. They all lived. The point being, even the stuff we fear in the western world is really pretty unlikely. Feed them, don't drop them and you are pretty much good. (for the first year)

ekanes 16y ago
For things that occur so rarely, you can't extrapolate based on your experience. By your logic, we shouldn't get vaccinated because "my 4 cousins didn't, and they lived."
- runjake 16y ago
  I think that was the OP's point. SIDS is rare and probably has nothing to do with a baby's position.It's a medical guess, at this point. I almost feel irresponsible mentioning this, so let me say that one should always listen to their doctors.
  - m_eiman 16y ago
    SIDS is rare and probably has nothing to do with a baby's position. There's a bunch of research on the subject, and the resulting recommendation is that sleeping on the back is preferred. I haven't read the actual studies, but a bunch are mentioned in the article I linked to: Alm B, Lagercrantz H, Wennergren G. Stop SIDS - sleeping solitary supine, sucking soother, stopping smoking substitutes. Acta Paediatr. 2006 Mar;95(3):260-2. Swedish Medical Research Council State of the Art Conference on the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Proceedings. Gothenburg, 3-5 June 1992. Acta Paediatr Suppl 1993;389(1):1-129. Alm B, Milerad J, Wennergren G, Skjaerven R, Øyen N, Norvenius G, et al. A case-control study of smoking and sudden infant death syndrome in the Scandinavian countries, 1992 to 1995. The Nordic Epidemiological SIDS Study. Arch Dis Child 1998;78(4):329-34. Alm B, Norvenius SG, Wennergren G, Skjaerven R, Oyen N, Milerad J, et al. Changes in the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome in Sweden 1973-1996. Arch Dis Child 2001;84(1):24-30. Alm B, Möllborg P, Erdes L, Pettersson R, Aberg N, Norvenius G, Wennergren G. SIDS risk factors and factors associated with prone sleeping in Sweden. Arch Dis Child. 2006;91:915-9. Wennergren G. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatr Pulmonol 2004;37 Suppl 26:110-1. Carpenter RG, Irgens LM, Blair PS, England PD, Fleming P, Huber J, et al. Sudden unexplained infant death in 20 regions in Europe: case control study. Lancet 2004;363(9404):185-91. American Academy of Pediatrics, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Policy Statement. The changing concept of sudden infant death syndrome: diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Pediatrics 2005;116:1245-55. [edit: google the names of the studies and you'll find abstracts or more]
    - runjake 16y ago
      I've read some of the actual studies you've quoted (and others), and they seem to indicate that infants that sleep on their backs fair slightly better in statistics. Some also blame heavier blankets and "bumper pads" (the pads that wrap around the bars at the base of the mattress). As I mentioned elsewhere, my understanding is that it's merely a recommendation based on statistics with no direct correlation. My babies went on their backs, because even a %.001 difference is enough for me to play the game, seeing as I don't know what I'd do if one of them passed away.
      - nl 16y ago
        a recommendation based on statistics with no direct correlation "a recommendation based on statistics" usually means there is a correlation. I think you mean that it may not imply causation, which is true of course.
- jaxn 16y ago
  My point was not as much about how you do or don't die from SIDS, but rather that it is mostly a 1st world problem. We don't worry about cholora or dysentery.
m_eiman 16y ago
Even the high number is "only" 1.1 in 1000, so 0.11%. Still, 0.013% is quite a bit lower. My kids haven't had any trouble sleeping on their backs (yet - the young one is only four months), but if they had I think I'd let them sleep face down and just watch them better. There are devices that detect breathing in a baby bed and warn if none is detected for X seconds, which might ease the minds of worried parents - regardless if face up/down.

runjake 16y ago

I haven't heard any solid research behind the back vs. face down approach, and I don't believe any currently exists. This recommendation apparently comes due to raw statistics until some better data can be gathered. That said, I'm not a gambler and my kids when on their backs. Then they wanted to sleep face down, now they sleep on their backs again (I have infant triplets). I wish there was more solid data on SIDS, but it's apparently proven a difficult area of study.