Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Crib Death - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Because the causes of SIDS are not known, it is hard to tell which specific babies may die of SIDS. So prevention is aimed at all babies and pregnant women.
THE most important action parents can take to prevent SIDS in their babies is to put them to sleep on their backs, whether at naptime or at night! Babies sleeping on their sides or stomachs are 2 to 9 times as likely to die of SIDS.
Babies who are exposed to smoke in the home have twice the risk of SIDS as babies who live in a smoke-free environment. Every effort should be made to provide a smoke-free environment, both before the baby is born, and in the home and any day care settings during the early months of life.
Other measures that can help prevent some cases of sudden infant death include the following.
During pregnancy, the expectant mother can take the following measures to help prevent SIDS:
Also, the following actions can help maintain the baby's health, in general:
Attempts to prevent SIDS through the use of heartbeat and breathing monitors in the home have not been found to be effective and are rarely used.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
SIDS often results in feelings of guilt, sadness, and anger in the parents and other family members.
What are the risks to others?
The risk to others involves the grieving process in those left behind.