Parents can help to reduce their child’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) through the use of preventative measures, according to a new study published in the journal Nouvel Obs.
Researchers in France report a significant decline in the number of SIDS-related deaths, from 1,464 deaths in 1991 to 244 in 2008 – a 76 percent drop over the 15-year span.
A study conducted by the Institut de Veille Sanitaire suggests that even with this significant drop in deaths, many cases could still be avoided through simple preventative measures.
Of the 281 cases studied by the researchers, 45 percent may have been avoidable, explains Juliette Bloch, the study’s lead author.
To lower the risk of SIDS, parents should always place their infant on his or her back to sleep, in a crib without bedding, stuffed animals and pillows.
To further reduce the risk, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends keeping the crib in the parents’ room for at least the first six months. Placing the baby in a shared family bed, however, is not recommended and may increase the infant’s risk.