That is incredible to for You
did. And for them to yeah.
>> Really great concept, but
also got And so October is
safe, Sleep and SIDS Awareness
Month. So this is an interview
that I’ve been excited to bring
you. As you know, I’ve got a 3
and a one year-old at home.
So I was the mom a couple years
ago frantically looking up how
to keep my baby safe while they
were sleeping. So joining us to
talk about safe, sleeping
habits for babies, chief of
pediatrics with McGovern
Medical School and UT Health,
Houston and Children’s Memorial
Hermann Hospital Doctor can.
Hey, good morning, doctor.
Aided in good morning. So for
those who may not know what you
go ahead and give us a brief
idea of what is SIDS.
>> Sure. So sadly, every year
about 3,500 babies die suddenly
and unexpectedly in their
sleep.
The most of these are said
sudden infant Death syndrome
where we never really
understand what has happened
even after an investigation and
others are injuries that occur
in the sleep environment.
Like some occasion.
>> Yeah. How old are the babies
that were talking about who who
do die from SIDS? What is the
age age range? That’s most at
risk.
>> Yes, these are young babies.
Most of these occur in the
first 6 months of age. And the
peak is between one and 4
months of age.
>> So I know that the general
recommendation is always that a
baby needs to sleep on their
back alone in the crib, ABC
alone back crib are there times
when it’s OK for a baby to be
placed on their stomach ever.
>> Not during sleep. We really
recommend against that Pursley,
but it’s important to have
Tommy Time being on her stomach
when they’re awake and alert.
Because that helps with motor
development and helps them
learn to live their heads so
that so we say back personally,
I mean, her client.
>> What is allowed to be in
the crib with your baby?
Is there anything you know,
what is it ever OK to be with a
blanket or stuffed animal or
things like that?
>> We really advise parents to
avoid any clutter in the bed.
So anything stuffed animals,
pillows,
car problem, even bumper pads
that we used to use. That’s
decorating the great, but it
actually increases risk.
So they’re that’s nice and firm
and has been approved by the
Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
>> As you know, though, there
are still products out there
that are listed as marketed
really as a way to prevent SIDS
set the record straight.
Is that true? Should people
be buying into
those products?
>> There is no proven There’s
no real way to prevent since
we can reduce the risk by these
products are. Are we really
warn against these products?
Many of them are solved.
Hello. I products and they can
actually increase risk and
cause cause problems for maybe
some of them aren’t inclined
and that could be a problem.
We really advise parents not to
use in spots.
>> Thank you for saying that.
I still see those products on
store shelves and it can be
very aggravating as a parent
knowing that somebody else
would innocently
by that and not really know
that they they weren’t
necessarily doing the best
thing for their baby. So can
you may remember, and I’ve
reported on a potential enzyme
that could be the source of
babies dying from states could
be this enzyme, as you it.
It may be lacking and may play
a role in waking the baby if
they stopped breathing. So if
that research leads to a real
discovery of SIDS, could this
tragic death one day be
eliminated?
>> Well, we certainly hope so.
And there are many people
studying the Underlying
conditions that may increase
risk. Now our our real best
strategy. We can’t control the
majority of babies. They’re all
they can protect themselves
and roll out of a risky
situation. We don’t always we
certainly can identify all the
babies who got those underlying
medical problems. We can
control the environment
basically been. And so that’s
where we really believe parents
should focus at this time.
It’s simple alone on their be
them. And in the grant, the
ABC’s are the most effective in
the easiest way to avoid risk
for every sleep. So nighttime,
sleep, and sleep.
>> All right. can thank you so
much for joining us. That is
all very valuable information.
As I mentioned, I know parents
are constantly looking for the
newest latest information to
make sure that they’re keeping
their babies safe. So
appreciate you joining us this
morning. This is Doctor Mary
Aiken. She’s the chief of
pediatrics with McGovern
medical School, UT Health,