[alyn<33]

My older sister has a 4 month old baby girl and she wants to know if there are any ways you can prevent or lessen the chances of her baby getting SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome in case you don't know).

[klance05]

Putting her to sleep on her back is one of the biggest ways to help prevent SIDS. Also, do not let anyone smoke near the child or in the home. Second hand smoke is very harmful for small children. Some people also recommend removing crib bumpers and blankets from the crib so that the child won't smother themselves. A few people tend to also believe that their may be a link between immunizations and SIDS, but there is no definitive proof of that, it's just another theory to try and explain it. Tell your sister, though, that the highest risk of SIDS seems to be between two and four months and moreso among caucasian males, so she seems to be over the most dangerous peek, but still to take precautions as you never know what may happen.

[Kristin W]

Check out: www.sids.orgHere is some info from the site:1. Place infants to sleep on their backs, even though infants may sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and sides have a higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.2. Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. There should be nothing in the bed but the baby - no covering, no pillows, no bumper pads and no toys. Soft mattresses and heavy covering are associated with the risk for SIDS.3. Do not over-clothe the infant while he/she sleeps. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Overheating an infant may increase the risk for SIDS.4. Avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don't have your infant in the same house or car with someone who is smoking. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of SIDS.5. Breast-feed babies whenever possible. Breast milk decreases the occurrence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Studies show that breast-fed babies have a lower SIDS rate than formula-fed babies do.6. Avoid exposing the infant to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds. Carefully clean anything that comes in contact with the baby. Have people wash their hands before holding or playing with your baby. SIDS often occurs in association with relatively minor respiratory (mild cold) and gastrointestinal infections (vomiting and diarrhea).7. Consider using home monitoring systems (apnea/bradycardia monitors) in an attempt to prevent sudden death in high-risk infants.The risk of SIDS in the following groups exceeds that of the general population by as much as 5 to 10 times:Infants born weighing less than 3.5 pounds.Infants whose sibling died of SIDS.Infants exposed to cocaine, heroin, or methadone during the pregnancy.The second or succeeding child born to a teenage mother.Infants who have had an apparent life-threatening event.Lots of info!

I have heard that if a baby sucks on a pacifier at night while sleeping it can lessen the chances ..............I dont know if its true but thats what I heard

Lay her on her back instead of her stomach.