S sudden I infant D death S syndrome

CAUSE - UNKNOWN
but there are some possibilities;
***The biggest is being prone (on the stomach), the CDC has started a campaign focusing on placing the baby on its back called "safe to sleep" to raise awareness among parents and caregivers, they recommend letting the baby in the first month of life cry for 20-30 minutes when placed in bed on their back for 3 nights to train them to fall asleep in that position and if after three nights they refuse to sleep let them fall asleep on their stomach and flip them once sleeping.

Other possible reasons are as follows:

*Underlying biological vulnerability of the child being exposed to an external trigger at a critical development age,

*Sleeping with parent/s and being suffocated accidentally,

*Items in the crib with the baby such as stuffed toys, loose blankets, pillows, loose fitting clothing, bumpers on the crib side panels, exposure to cigarette smoke and overdressing

PREVENTION - NOT PREVENTABLE
but these are some highly recommended steps to follow:

***Always place the baby on the back to sleep!

*Remove all loose items from the crib including toys, stuffed animals, pillows

*Make sure to use a firm mattress with a tight fitted sheet

*Keep the baby in a separate bed but in the same room or very close to the room of the caregiver

*A relatively cool environment

*Avoid exposure to any cigarette smoke, second or third hand (smell of smoke on clothing or blankets)

*Use sleep sacks for the baby to sleep in
*Use a pacifier but be sure that there is no string or ribbon attached
*Keeping vaccines up to date
*Breastfeeding for at least the first 4 months