As an early childhood professional I learn on a daily basis how research impacts children and families in a positive way. Placing an infant on its back to rest was one of the first safety techniques that I learned as an infant teacher. This simple technique has helped saved thousands of infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, (SIDS). SIDS is defined as the sudden death of infant between the ages of birth to 12 months. In the case of SIDS many infants die while sleeping because of unsafe sleeping environments. The Back to sleep public health campaign has taught families all around the country and world safe techniques to use when putting a baby to sleep. Placing an infant on the back with a firm mattress, and removing blankets and soft toys from the crib are a few of the strategies that researchers have suggested to prevent SIDS. Since the campaign began in the late 90’s the SIDS rate has fallen nearly 50%.
While the spread of safe sleeping conditions initial reduced the rate of SIDS, the rate has begun to plateau. Researchers are currently working to figure out how to continue to decrease the SIDS rate. New information has put African American, Native American, and premature infants at particular high risk for falling victim to SIDS. The information that researchers have done has saved many lives but their work is far from over. I look forward to learning new insights from the researcher’s information safe that will continue to benefit children and families.
Rental, Margaret (2014). SIDS and Babies. Retrieved from
http://www.parenting.com/article/sids-and-babies
Shirley
ReplyDeleteSIDS is very scary and should try to be prevented in every way. We are required to have at least 1 hour of training on the subject each year and I try to ensure that all of the teen parents that I am working with are knowledgeable about the subject. This is a great example as to how research has helped to save lives.
Shirley,
ReplyDeleteI too work with infants and had the opportunity to attend a workshop on SIDS, regrettably I did not attend. Thankfully there is a lot of information on the internet that we all can read in order to help save lives of infants.
Thank you for sharing
Shirley,
ReplyDeleteGreat topic, need you back when I had my first child. I think I did not sleep for the first year very well so paranoid about SIDS. The brief training I had in the hospital they had me more scared for my child. This helpful research to many.
Great article!! I have always been curious about SIDS. I have friends who have lost their children to it. I overly watched my children from new born stage until 1 years old as they slept because I was so afraid of SIDS. The research has proven to decrease the cases of SIDS which is proof it should continue.
ReplyDelete