Sids toll drops as risks reduced

Rotorua midwife Lana Williams believed most parents had learnt to minimise such factors. Photo / Thinkstock

Fewer Lakes district infants are dying inexplicably in their first year of life, new data shows.

Between 2007 and 2012, just eight Lakes infants died from Sudden infant death syndrome (Sids), according to Ministry of Health data.

As the deaths were investigated through the coronial process, 2012 is the most recent year the data is available.

Sids - also known as Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant (Sudi) and cot death - is the sudden unexplained death of a child less than one year of age. To be considered Sids, the death must remain unexplained after a thorough autopsy and detailed death scene investigation.

Sids usually occurs during sleep with no evidence of struggle or noise from the infant. The exact cause is unknown.

However, associated risk factors include bed sharing, prematurity (less than 36 weeks gestation), low birth weight (less than 2.5kg), tummy sleeping, sleeping on or near pillows, sleeping in car seats and slings, and smoking during and after pregnancy.

Rotorua midwife Lana Williams believed most parents had learnt to minimise such factors.

"We talk to parents about safe sleeping, not smoking and that sort of thing," she said.

"Pepi pods have also made a difference because they give babies their own place to sleep."

A pepi pod is a plastic box with a mattress, and cover and bedding package, including a top sheet to wrap the baby securely and keep them on their back while sleeping. They are designed for babies to six months.

However, shared sleeping was still an issue, Ms Williams said.

"In the cold season, some families all sleep in the lounge because it's the warmest room in the house. That's fine as long as babies still have their own space to sleep in."

SIDS and Kids New Zealand chief executive Margaret Free believed parents were becoming more aware of risk factors.

"We get about three or four calls a day, at least, from parents who want to know about what they can do to prevent Sids."

Parents should be aware of babies overheating in winter, she said.

"Parents think the baby's cold and put on too many layers. The main thing there is to dress your baby the same as you dress yourself when you go to bed.

"The room temperature should be about 21 degrees, and don't put them on piles of blankets."

Ways to lower risk of cot death
•Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side.
•Sleep baby with head and face uncovered.
•Keep baby in a smokefree environment before birth and after.
•Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day.
•Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first six to 12 months.
•Breastfeed baby.
- Source: SIDS and Kids New Zealand