When does the risk decrease?

Question

Reece is almost 5 months now, and i am still really worried about SIDS. he has recently started flipping over on his side/ tummy when sleeping. and from he was very small, he has to have something at his face to make him sleep, i hate this, but its seriously the only way he will go to sleep! i take it away asap.

does anyone know when the risk goes away or is greatly reduced?

Answer 1

The risk quite significantly decreases at 6 months of age, when babies learn to turn over themselves very well. In general doctors say that you suppose to put them to sleep on their backs, but if they turn over on to their tummies themselves it's fine to leave them like that (that means they have enough strenght to turn their head when necessary.

The risk is over completely when they turn 12 months. SIDS is a sudden Infant death syndrome, at 12 months your baby is a toddler, not an infant.

Its funny though, my mom told me when I was a baby she had to put a blanket close to my nose and thats the only way I would go to sleep.

Answer 2

He is passed what they consider the high risk period- 2 to 4 months old. If no babies in your or your husband's families have ever had sleep apnea or passed from SIDS, you can relax. My oldest two daughters did this face thing and it nearly drove me off the edge. They are 19 and 15 and STILL sleep like that! LOL You can help by not smoking and getting good prenatal care. Teen moms babies' are at the highest risk and it gets higher for every baby a teen mom has as a teen. Enjoy him! He'll be gown before you even can figure out time went by!

Answer 3

On the UK FSIDS website it says that it peaks at about 3 months and then drops sharply at 6 months.   Usually they say when babies are old enough to turn over themselves their own body has matured to the point where it is no longer a risk, but there's no guarantee.

I wasn't sleeping the first 4 weeks with my son, and every 20 minutes I would wake up to check on him, so I splurged and spent the money on an Angelcare monitor that monitors breathing in the night - an alarm goes off if no movement is detected after 20 seconds.  Although they are expensive, they go for half price or less on ebay and definitely worth the peace of mind.

Answer 4

I think the risk decreases when the child learns to flip over on his/her own and/or around 6 months or so.

My daughter was an early 'flipper', I was always concerned too. She is 15 months now.

Just be sure to always, always put him on his back to sleep. I personally use to check for my daughters breathing periodically, still do. Check with your doctor either at his next appointment, or maybe call to talk with a nurse for more detailed and/or accurate information. They would know best about your baby, besides you of course.

Answer 5

I too, am paranoid about SIDS.

Officially SIDS is an issue until 12 months, but as they get older the risk decreases.

From about 6 months the risk significantly decreases.

Regarding the rolling over...I looked into this when my son kept rolling over, even though I always put him on his back. Apparently, once they can roll themselves over like that, you can just let them roll around as they please.

My son (8 months) rolls all over his cot. I got worried about his bedding suffocating him, so I bought a couple of sleep suits.

He's probably getting old enough now that you can start trying to train him to go to sleep without something near his face.

You could probably start to gradually reduce the size of the things you use, until he doesn't need anything.