SIDS claimed the lives of 68 Mississippi infants in 2006, according to Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) statistics.

MSDH officials want to inform Mississippi families of the best practices to put in place to reduce the risk of SIDS, especially during October, SIDS Awareness Month.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that all infants should be placed on their back for every sleep period. Side sleeping is not a safe alternative and is not advised.

"Every caregiver should use the back sleep position with the infant during every sleep period," said Dr. Lynn Walker, pediatric clinician for MSDH. "Bed sharing has been identified as a contributor to SIDS deaths. Infants may be brought into bed for nursing or comforting, but should be returned to their own crib or bassinet when the parent is ready to return to sleep."

Through SIDS Awareness Month, health officials want to promote infant health and survival during the first year of life and deliver the message that SIDS can affect any Mississippi family.

Dr. Walker says caregivers can take these simple steps to help reduce SIDS:

• Back to sleep: Infants should be placed for sleep in a supine (wholly on back) position for every sleep period. Place the infant to sleep with the head to one side for a week, and then change to the other.
• Use a firm sleep surface: A firm crib mattress, covered by a sheet, is the recommended sleeping surface.
• Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib: Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft objects should be kept out of an infant's sleeping environment.
• A separate but nearby sleeping environment is recommended, such as a separate crib in the parents' bedroom. Bed sharing during sleep is not recommended.
• Consider offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. The pacifier should be used when placing the infant down for sleep, and not be reinserted once the infant falls asleep.
• Avoiding an infant's exposure to second-hand smoke is advisable for numerous reasons in addition to lowering the risk of SIDS.
• Avoid overheating: The infant should be lightly clothed for sleep, and the bedroom temperature should be kept comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Avoid commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS. Although various devices have been developed to maintain sleep position or reduce the risk of rebreathing, none have been tested sufficiently to show efficacy or safety.
• Do not use home monitors as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS. There is no evidence that use of such home monitors decreases the risk of SIDS.
• Avoid development of positional plagiocephaly (flat back of head). Encourage "tummy time."
• Avoid having the infant spend excessive time in car-seat carriers and "bouncers."
• Ensure that others caring for the infant (child care provider, relative, friend, babysitter) are aware of these recommendations.

MSDH offers support services and referrals to families who have suffered the loss of a baby to SIDS.

"We supply current information about SIDS to the medical community, child care professionals and the general public, particularly expectant parents," said Dr. Walker. "But parents should ask their primary care health provider questions regarding specific SIDS risk reduction recommendations to determine what is appropriate for their infant."

Receive health and preparedness news from MSDH by e-mail: subscribe to MSDH Newsletters
Press Contact: Liz Sharlot , Elizabeth Grey or Carol Jarvis Jones, (601) 576-7667