U.S. researchers find new clue to infant deaths

2010-02-22T12:30:57Z

<div><p>CHICAGO (Reuters) - Babies who die from sudden infant death syndrome make low amounts of the message-carrying brain chemical serotonin needed to regulate sleep, breathing and heart rate, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.</p><p>The finding, published in the

Over half of SIDS deaths occur during co-sleeping

2010-02-24T19:06:26Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a study from England, most babies who died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were sleeping with an adult or another child at the time.</p><p>Many of these "co-sleeping" deaths occurred in a potentially hazardous environment, such as in a bed or a sofa shared with an adult...

'Co-sleeping is key culprit' in sudden infant deaths

2010-02-24T19:11:10Z

<div><p>More than half of sudden infant deaths reviewed in a study released on Wednesday occurred while the babies shared a bed or sofa with a parent.</p><p>The incidence of so-called sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, increased when the adult "co-sleeping" with the infant had recently consumed alcohol or drugs, the study found.</p><p>SIDS entered the medical vocabulary some 40 years ago to describe cases in ...

Co-sleeping is key culprit in sudden infant deaths: study

2010-02-24T19:19:32Z

<div><p>More than half of sudden infant deaths reviewed in a study released Wednesday occurred while the babies shared a bed or sofa with a parent.</p><p>The incidence of so-called sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, increased when the adult "co-sleeping" with the infant had recently consumed alcohol or drugs, the study found.</p><p>SIDS entered the medical vocabulary some 40 years ago to describe cases in whi...

A Frequently Asked Question about Bed Sharing

2010-03-05T11:29:42Z

Q. Is there scientific proof that bed sharing between an adult and a baby reduces Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

A. No. Currently, there is no scientific proof that bed sharing between an adult and a child reduces SIDS.

In fact, in some cases, bed sharing can be unsafe for a baby.

A new study in the journal Pediatrics found that children who share a bed with other children are at a higher risk of SIDS than are other infants. For more information on this study, go to...

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

2010-03-05T12:06:01Z

SIDS is the term used to describe the sudden, unexplained death of a baby under one year of age. In the past, SIDS was sometimes called "crib death," even though cribs themselves do not cause SIDS. Researchers estimate that SIDS is the cause of about 2,500 infant deaths each year.

Like any loss of a child, SIDS can be devastating to a family. If you or your family has been touched by SIDS, you may want to seek counseling to help deal with the emotions of the loss. For more information ...

Safe Sleep For Your Baby: Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)--General Outreach

2010-03-05T12:06:24Z

Contents. What is SIDS? What should I know about SIDS? What can I do to lower my baby's risk of SIDS? Safe Sleep Top 10 Babies sleep safest on their backs. Spread the word!

. What is SIDS?

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.

Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. But, cribs don't cause SIDS.

. What should I ...

Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden baby death

2010-02-28T05:19:01Z

<div id="subtitle">Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome, study says; more research needed</div><div><p>Using a fan to circulate air seemed to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in a study of nearly 500 babies, researchers reported Monday. Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the best advice for preventing SIDS, a still mysterious cause of death.</p><p>Experts also recommen...

Study says fans may reduce risk of cot death

2010-02-28T05:29:17Z

<div><p>Ventilating a baby's room with a fan could significantly reduce the risk of cot death, according to scientists in the US.</p><p>Medical records of newborns show infants who slept in a bedroom with a fan had a 72% lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids), compared with those whose rooms were less well ventilated.</p><p>The findings build on previous work that suggests sleeping on the stomach and i...

Infant Hearing Test May Predict Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

2010-03-04T08:15:51Z

<div><p>Newborn hearing tests may hold the key to predicting which babies are at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a new study finds.</p><p>The study, published in the July issue of Early Human Development found all babies in a Rhode Island study group who died of SIDS shared the same distinctive difference in their newborn hearing test results for the right inner ear, when ...

SIDS Update: How Genes and Environment Interact

2010-03-04T16:26:17Z

<div><p> Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is something no parent wants to think about but should. According to First Candle/SIDS Alliance, a national nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, SIDS is the No. 1 cause of death in infants between ages 1 month and 1 year. Known risk factors associated with SIDS ...

Haywire brain chemical linked to sudden baby death

2010-03-04T16:41:03Z

<div id="subtitle">New evidence links abnormalities in the brain chemical serotonin to sudden infant death</div><div><p>Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies — sudden infant death syndrome.</p><p>Autopsied brain tissue from SIDS babies first raised suspicion that an imbalance in serotonin might be ...

News on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome