• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

by Charles Crutchfield III MD
November 2, 2016
53
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Dear Dr. Crutchfield, my sister is expecting a baby soon. I have heard about something called “SIDS.” What is SIDS, and what advice can I give her to prevent SIDS in her new baby?

crutchfieldsquareSIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death. This is the sudden death of a child less than one year of age that occurs without explanation. In the United States, 2,500 babies die of SIDS every year. This is a stunning number of deaths.

Autopsy and complete death scene investigations demonstrate no definitive cause of death. Most deaths occur between midnight and 8 am. The majority of cases occur in babies between ages two and six months when the infant’s ability to wake up from certain stimuli is not fully developed.

SIDS is more common in boys than girls but occurs among all children. Some experts are now calling this Sudden and Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI). Additionally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently proposed that such infant deaths be called “sudden unexpected infant deaths” (SUID) and that SIDS is a subset of SUID.

As you can imagine, no matter what the syndrome is called, the condition is devastating to families.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

advice-13Diagnosis

The diagnosis is one of exclusion. If an autopsy and complete death scene investigation demonstrate no definitive cause of death, the diagnosis of SIDS is made.

The cause of SIDS remains unknown. Eighty percent of sudden and unexpected infant deaths result from SIDS. The other 20 percent of sudden and unexpected infant deaths are a result of heart problems, genetic disorders or infections.

Risk factors

The following are known risk factors for the development of SIDS:

- ADVERTISEMENT -
  • Sleeping on the stomach
  • Exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Sleeping  on a soft mattress
  • Sleeping with cushions or bumpers in the crib
  • Prematurity
  • Low birthweight
  • Young mother’s age
  • Children who have not been breastfed
  • Children who have anemia

Treatment

There is no treatment of SIDS. The goal is to prevent the occurrence of SIDS. As of October 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics has come up with a new set of guidelines  to minimize SIDS:

  • Have the baby sleep on its back, always, even for quick naps.
  • Have the baby sleep in the same room, but not same bed, as parents, until the age of one.
  • Have the baby sleep alone, always.
  • Make sure the mattress is firm.
  • No cushions or soft toys in the bed.
  • Breastfeed the baby as long (months) as possible.
  • Make sure the room is not too hot; keep the temperature under 76 degrees. Use light clothing and blankets.
  • Do not smoke around child.
  • Make sure immunizations are up to date.
  • Use a pacifier.
  • Don’t give honey to a baby under one year of age (has increased risk of botulism).

There are also several special heart and breathing monitors that alert parents to abnormal situations and reduce the risk of SIDS. Surprisingly, in the medical community these are controversial, so discuss their recommended use with your pediatrician.

It appears that one of the major preventive measures is to make sure the baby sleeps alone, on the baby’s back, in the same room (not same bed) as the parents for at least the first six months, and preferably the first year. The evidence is compelling. This simple measure, coupled with the preventive list above, has decreased the incidence of SIDS by 50 percent!

Surprisingly, as simple as this may seem, it goes against the family tradition of preparing a beautiful nursery for the newborn. The advice I give is to create a beautiful nursery but use it at the one-year mark. This is a very small price to pay to decrease the risk of SIDS.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Unfortunately, SIDS is a major cause of infant death. Shockingly, more infants die every year from SIDS than in automobile accidents. There are many things you can do as a parent to minimize the occurrence of this devastating condition. Be sure to discuss SIDS with your pediatrician and develop a plan to keep your baby as safe as possible.

 

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He received his M.D. and Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology and Genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine.  Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as 1 of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

School board candidates differ over cops in schools

Next Post

Ten times more infants die in sleep than in car crashes

Charles Crutchfield III MD

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD was the senior medical advisor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder until his passing on June 21, 2023. He launched and helped organize a weekly Doctor's Advice column where he and other Black physicians offered timely medical advice on pertinent topics in the Black community. Dr. Crutchfield III was a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of biology at Carleton College. He also had a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and master’s degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He had been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specialized in skincare for people of color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 18 years. He was the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield was an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians.

You Might Also Like

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon
Health & Wellness

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink
Local

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink

Wanted: Freelance reporters
Employment

Call for writers

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs
Sports

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs

MN labor groups rally with auto workers
Local

MN labor groups rally with auto workers

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 
Arts & Culture

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 

Next Post

Ten times more infants die in sleep than in car crashes

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

Sep 27
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: