Pediatric sleep doctor shares ten ways to prevent SIDS

October 28, 2024
Dr. Gulnur Com

Dr. Gulnur Com, pediatric sleep medicine specialist at Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola shares ways to create a safe sleep environment for infants to prevent SIDS.

Dr. Gulnur Com, pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine specialist at Studer Family Children’s Hospital spends time with new parents sharing the importance of infant safe sleeping practices. Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, was recognized as a Gold-level Certified Safe Sleep Champion designation, demonstrating dedication to reducing infant sleep-related deaths.

“Every year in the U.S., approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep-related causes, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).” said Dr. Com.“SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant who is less than one year old that occurs during sleep and remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including a complete autopsy and review of the circumstances of death and clinical history.” 

SIDS mainly occurs when a baby is exposed to life-threatening events, such as suffocation while sleeping on their belly and failure of waking up, leading to progressive asphyxia (low oxygen level) and coma. 

In recent decades, the rate of SIDS has significantly decreased due to the Safe Infant Sleep campaign, which has helped reduce the risk of infant sleep-related deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to create a safe sleep environment to minimize the risk of SIDS. According to Dr. Com, researchers studying the factors contributing to this condition have identified three main factors over the past decades including the vulnerability of infants due to their gender, prematurity and genetics; neurological development and the environment the infant will be raised in:

Here are ten things Dr. Com shares with patient families to insure their newborn follows safe infant sleep best practices:

  1. Always place your baby on their back for every sleep until they are one year old. This supine positioning is not just a suggestion. It's a crucial step for ensuring your baby's safety. 
  2. Avoid using soft objects and loose bedding in the crib to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation. 
  3. Infants should sleep on a firm, flat crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet. 
  4. Room-sharing. The infant's crib or bassinet should be placed in the parents' bedroom close to the parents' bed. Room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first six months of life can reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50% and prevent suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment.
  5. Do not place infants to sleep on adult-sized beds or mattresses to prevent entrapment and suffocation. 
  6. Bed-share.it's crucial not to sleep with your infant under three months of age in the bed, when sleeping with multiple persons, on a soft or unsafe bed such as one with duvets, pillows, or soft covers, or on a sofa, armchair, or couch. By avoiding these unsafe sleep surfaces, you make the best choice for your baby's safety. 
  7. Avoid using car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers, and slings for routine sleep. These devices are not designed for extended periods of sleep and can pose a risk to the infant's airway.
  8. Breastfeeding is strongly encouraged as it is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. 
  9. Supervised tummy time while awake is important because it helps your baby develop motor skills and strengthen their muscles.
  10. Overheating while sleeping can increase a baby's risk of SIDS. To keep your baby warm, try a sleep sack or dress your baby in layers instead of using blankets. Avoid covering your baby's head.



When you choose Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart for infant care, you are connected to highly experienced specialists ready to work with your child and deliver the care you and your family need. Learn more about safe infant sleep education by visiting our website.

Last updated: October 28, 2024