Sarah Ford
Summer Safety & Year-round Precautions to Reduce the Risk of SIDS
Now that the weather’s getting warmer, it’s a good time to talk (again!) about the dangers of overheating your baby. Babies are sensitive to extremes in temperature and cannot regulate their internal body temperatures well. Overheating can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.
- Always be sure your baby is dressed appropriately for the weather and temperature in your home and outside.
- Signs of overheating can be sweating and feeling hot to the touch.
- Never use a blanket or other item as a weather or sun shield. This can trap dangerous carbon dioxide (exhaled air) around your baby’s face. Instead of breathing fresh, oxygen rich air, he will re-breath the exhaled air. Re-breathing is a leading risk factor for SIDS.
- Keep room temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
- Use a fan in the room to help circulate the air. This can help with both overheating and re-breathing.
Other precautions to be taken year round to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sudden infant deaths…
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