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Febrile Seizures
While fever is the body's natural defense against infection, approximately five percent of children have what are classified as "simple" febrile seizures while running a fever. If anyone has a child who suffers from febrile seizures, take heart ......
Hello World: Baby's Third Month Guide
Remember how you wished your baby would learn there is more
to life than crying, feeding and sleeping? Your wishes are
coming true. Your baby's third month will see her become
much more interactive. So much so with some babies, that
parents secretly...
Shared Dancing Has Benefits for Babies and New Moms Alike
Every parent knows the calming effects on their baby of rocking and gentle motion. After all, who among us has not paced the floor at 2 am trying to entice a little one back to sleep by rocking, bouncing or swaying? While you may not be able to do...
The First Week with your Baby
The first week of your baby's life brings big adjustments for both of you. You are adjusting to being a mother and caring for your baby and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. It is a time of great joy -- and possibly immense fear!...
Typical Language Accomplishments
I thought it was important for you to know the typical Language Accomplishments for Children, Birth to Age 3. Learning to read is built on a foundation of language skills that children start to learn at birth--a process that is both complicated...
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SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – What You Need To Know
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a frightening fear for most mothers. SIDS is often referred to as crib death, and is the sudden death of an infant who stops breathing. It is rare, affecting less than 2 in 1000 infants in the US, but the fear of it plagues all new mothers.
Who needs to be worried?
SIDS was once thought of as random, striking healthy babies, which made it all the more frightening. But, in reality, there are some things that can indicate that a baby is at a higher risk for SIDS. The first is any baby that has previously had an episode where he has turned blue or had to have breathing revived. Premature or low birthweight babies are more susceptible. In addition, mothers who have had poor prenatal care or smoked during pregnancy are more likely to have a child with SIDS. Children with diagnosed heart or lung conditions are also at risk, and boys are more susceptible than girls.
So, what do I do?
First and foremost, take care of yourself during pregnancy and don't smoke. Have regular prenatal doctor's visits, and follow your doctor's recommendations. Secondly, put your newborn to sleep on his back, or his side. There does seem to be a connection between SIDS and babies who sleep on their stomachs, particularly if they sleep on a soft mattress. Don't put unnecessary items, even blankets in the crib with the baby, and don't let him get overheated. Learn infant CPR – so you are prepared in the event you need to resuscitate
your child.
What if my baby has had an episode?
If your child has an episode – stops breathing or turns blue, notify your doctor immediately, even though you were able to revive him. Your doctor will want to run tests, and, if he fears that the baby is likely to have another episode (though 95% do not) he might suggest a monitor for the baby. These monitors will alert you in the event the baby stops breathing, but are only used in high risk situations. The monitors are quite cumbersome, and tend to have lots of false alarms, making Moms even crazier.
When Can I Stop Worrying?
The threat of SIDS is over once your child reaches his first birthday, and declines dramatically once he is six months old. In fact, most SIDS deaths happen between the ages of two and four months. Take some precautions, but unless your baby has an elevated risk, remember that SIDS is actually rare, and is not something to obsess over.
About The Author:
Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom. Go to http://www.infantresources.com now and get her incredible baby minicourse – absolutely free.
Copyright Sarah Veda - http://www.infantresources.com
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