How you can lower your baby's risk of SIDS
- Do not over-clothe your sleeping baby. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Overheating an infant may increase the risk for SIDS.
- Avoid exposing your baby 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.
- Breast-feed 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.
- Avoid exposing your baby to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds and 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).
