Some time ago we shared the news that choking deaths in babies were on the rise in the United States, and related to it, a study found that this increase was largely due to the fact that parents practiced schooling incorrectly, after which we shared some tips for safe schooling and avoiding the risk of suffocation.
However, according to a new study, the greatest danger is objects that should not be with them while they sleep, because it was found that bedding is the cause of 70% of cases of deaths from asphyxiation in babies.
The study
Published in the magazine Pediatrics, the study reviewed case records of "sudden and unexpected death of a child" (SUID), to analyze the circumstances in which they occurred and find the best way to prevent them.
In Babies and more His baby died asphyxiated with a stuffed animal while he was sleeping, and he wants to alert other parents by sharing his tragic storySUIDs should not be confused with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SMSL or SIDS), which refers to the sudden death of a child under one year of age who occurs during sleep and no explanation is found, even after having done a thorough investigation.
The term SUID is then used to include all unexpected infant deaths, from those that do not have a clear cause as the case of the SMSL, or those that have a certain cause, such as asphyxiation. According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately half of SUID cases are by SMSL.
Then, returning to the study, the cases of SUID between 2011 and 2014 were reviewed, particularly those in which it had occurred involuntary asphyxiation, which is the main cause of deaths from injuries in children under one year and of which 82% is attributed to accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, according to the investigation.
Analyzing the information, those cases were taken in which baby's suffocation was related to unsafe factors or practices for baby's sleep, which include objects such as pillows or bedding that is too soft, excess layers when covering the baby and the use of wedges or inclined pillows and positioning cushions.
In Babies and moreThe roll cushions or crib positioners are dangerous for babies due to the risk of suffocationOf the 250 cases that had been classified as death by suffocation, the 69% of them were caused by the use of too soft bedding as pillows or blankets, followed by excess layers to cover the baby (19%) and the use of wedges or inclined pillows and positioning cushions (12%).
It was found that the average age of babies who had died was three months and that half of these deaths occurred in the parents' bed. In 82% of cases, babies had been sleeping on their stomachs and in 34% of them choking occurred because one or more blankets had been covered, obstructing their airways.
In fact, the study only confirms what pediatricians have recommended for many years: not to place anything in the baby's crib. However, this research is a clear sign that death by suffocation can be preventable in almost 70% of cases if parents follow these recommendations.
Recommendations for the baby to sleep safely
Both the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have published and shared their recommendations for a safe baby rest, which help prevent accidental deaths or by SMSL. We review them:
- Lay the baby down on his back on a firm surface like a bassinet or a crib with an adjustable sheet.
- The mattress on which the baby sleeps should be hard, tough and breathable, preventing it from sinking into it. Your measurements should be appropriate to the crib, since a small mattress can leave gaps.
- Avoid using a pillow, as it increases the risk of suffocation. From the age of two, children can use a thin, small and firm pillow if they wish or need it, although the ideal is to continue without a pillow as long as possible.
- Avoid using bedding as protectors for crib bars, blankets, blankets, cushions and soft toys, such as stuffed animals. The crib must be totally free.
- Avoid overcoating the baby and keep the room at a pleasant temperature.
- That the baby sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed. The AEP recommends doing so at least six months, while the AAP recommends extending it to 12 months.
- If you practice colecho, let it be safe. The AEP recommends not doing so before three months, while the AAP until six months.
- Avoid products and inventions that promise to reduce the risk of sudden death such as roll cushions or positioners. The only thing that should be in the crib is the baby.
Photos | iStock
Via | Vanguard
