New SIDS Study: Could Your Child Be at Risk?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, more commonly known to many as SIDS, is a terrifying worry to many parents around the world. Although the actual cause of death for infants diagnosed with SIDS is still undetermined, new studies are coming much closer to figuring out the source. It will be an enormous relief to new parents once the actual cause for SIDS has been identified. There are many new studies coming closer to cracking the SIDS mystery.

Below are some of the SIDS studies that have been done. Please always consult with your pediatrician or OB/GYN before changing anything in your daily routine.

Brain Abnormalities - A research group with the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development have found breaking evidence that the disease known as SIDS could be due to abnormalities in the brain stem. It specifically causes an imbalance in the way the brain uses serotonin.

Serotonin affects mood, breathing, waking from sleep, and body temperatures in the body. The risk appears to increase in the brain's chemical functions when the infant is sleeping on their tummy.

Although the study was fairly small, it told researchers a lot of valuable information. They studied brain tissue from 31 infants who had been diagnosed with death from SIDS. They also studied brain tissue from 10 infants who had died from other causes. Researchers discovered that all of the SIDS infants had twice the number of nerve cells which revealed serotonin defects.

Caffeine linked with SIDS - After CNN released breaking information back in 1998 about the possible link of caffeinated beverages and SIDS, many pregnant women cut back enormously on their intake. New findings were published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood about evidence found in mothers who had drank excessive amounts of coffee or soda during their pregnancies.

Dr. Al Steinschneider from the Atlanta-based American SIDS Institute states, "There's evidence, not great, but evidence that babies who go on to die of SIDS are not normal, even from the very first day of life, which means it's happening sometime prior to that birth."

The studies that the SIDS Institute had done revealed that pregnant woman who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day doubles their risks of SIDS. The high intake of caffeine may alter the unborn fetus's respiratory system.

Vaccines and SIDS - An article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed a study linking a possibility between the DTP vaccination and SIDS. It stated that infants were eight times more at risk for death after having had the shot. In another research done by Dr. William Torch from the University of Nevada School of Medicine at Reno 103 infants who died of SIDS were studied. Out of those children, more than two thirds were shown to have been given the DTP vaccination. This study also revealed that the peak months of death by SIDS revolved around the second and fourth month of infant life. These months are also when the DTP injection is normally given, yet again linking the two possibly together.

The research is not intended to frighten parents, but to inform them of the risks out there which can possibly link towards SIDS. Below are methods which scientists and pediatricians both recommend following as precautions towards helping reduce the risks to your infant. As stated above, please always consult your child's physician before making any changes in your daily routine.

Have your infant sleep on his or her back. The Back to Sleep campaign encourages parents to have their infants sleeping on their backs. Since this campaign has launched worldwide, the SIDS rate has dropped noticeably.

Avoid placing bedding and toys in the crib. While your child is sleeping, ensure all loose articles are removed from the crib. This will reduce the risk of suffocation.

Co-sleeping is not advised. Sleeping with your child can be a great hazard. Although sharing a bed with your baby can be a wonderful bonding experience, the risks are quite dangerous. Overtired mothers have been reported to crush their children by accident from rolling over. Blankets can also be pulled over the child's orifices causing suffocation.

Pacifiers are great for both parents and infants. Studies have shown that not only can a pacifier be a blessing to parents who just need a moment to breathe without baby's non-stop crying, but also a SIDS reducing method. Although they are unsure as to why, on a number comparison it seems infants who suck on a pacifier had a lower death rate than those who did not. The only assumption is that it has to do with breathing techniques a child develops.