Safe way to lay a baby to sleep

Yes, a breathing monitor might give you peace of mind in the early months.

As far as what I could understand from what the clinic sister explained about cotdeaths is that "true cot deaths" are a total mistery and might have not been prevented. I think all the companies who sell products that helps to "prevent" SIDS
might not like us to know that there products are not proven to reduce SIDS, but is merely a shot in the dark.

This is what wikipedia has to say:

The cause of SIDS is unknown. Although studies have identified risk factors for SIDS, such as putting infants to bed on their stomachs, there has been little understanding of the syndrome's biological cause or potential causes. The frequency of SIDS appears to be a strong function of the infant's sex, age and ethnicity, and the education and socio-economic-status of the infant's parents.

Listed below are several risk factors associated with increased probability of the syndrome.
[edit] Pre-natal risks

* teenage mother (SIDS rates decrease with increasing maternal age)[4]
* lower maternal education (SIDS rates decrease with increasing years of schooling) [4]
* lack of prenatal care (SIDS rates increase with increasing delay in starting pre-natal care)[4]
* exposure to nicotine by maternal smoking (SIDS rates are higher for infants of mothers who smoke during pregnancy)[4][5]

[edit] Post-natal risks

* mold (can cause bleeding lungs plus a variety of other uncommon conditions leading to a misdiagnosis and death). It is often misdiagnosed as a virus, flu, and/or asthma-like conditions.[6]
* low birth weight (in the US from 1995-1998 the rate for 1000-1499 g was 2.89/1000 and for 3500-3999 g it was 0.51/1000)[7][8]
* exposure to tobacco smoke[9]
* prone sleep position (lying on the stomach, see sleep positioning below)[10][11]
* not breastfeeding[12]
* elevated or reduced room temperature[13]
* excess bedding, clothing, soft sleep surface and stuffed animals[14]
* co-sleeping with parents or other siblings may increase risk for SIDS, but the mechanism remains unclear[15]
* infant's age (incidence rises from zero at birth, is highest from two to four months, and declines towards zero at one year)[16]
* premature birth (increases risk of SIDS death by about 4 times.[4][7] In 1995-1998 the US SIDS rate for 37–39 weeks of gestation was 0.73/1000; The SIDS rate for 28–31 weeks of gestation was 2.39/1000)[7]
* anemia[17] [NB: per item 6 in the list of epidemiologic characteristics below, extent of anemia cannot be evaluated at autopsy because "total hemoglobin can only be measured in living infants.[18]"

and more here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_infant_death_syndrome

Many babies looove sleeping on their tummies and sleep much sounder (which is also part of the cot death problem, I believe). I suppose, if you use the Angel Care monitor with the breathing mat you're on the safe side in the early months.

Hi Allie, welcome to moomie!

Yes, i have heard from other moms who also said that their babies will only sleep on their tummies. This is why this is a contraversial topic when it comes to cot deatsh, noboby can agree on what really causes it however in the cases of cot deaths it seemed that a baby sleeping on his tummy had a bigger chance of a cot death.

At my antenatal classes the sister said that it seems that studies show that with a cot death something in the brain isn't working right (this is what they discovered from the autopsies). There isn't really concrete proof that other factors like sleeping position or suffocation were the causes.

THis is just what I have heard....

My LO who is 3 months old will sleep on his back only on reclining seat while in his cot he won't sleep unless he's got his tummy down.

My paed advised me to let him sleep on his stomach

Safest is to put LO on their side or back.

wasa adviced to put her to sleep on her tummy during the day when I can keep an eye on her, as it helps with digestion and strengthen their back muscles.

Hi

I also agree with the other ladies, back or side is safest, not tummy.

Hi mybrat (love your avatar lol),

I agree with GW, the general consensus is not to put newborns on their tummies as it is a risk factor for cot death. It's fine once they can roll from tummy to back and vice versa.

Our paed recommended to put baby down on the side as it apparently promotes brain and muscle development. Best to alternate the side each time you put him/ her down. It also prevents choking in case baby vomits.

You can either use sleep wedges or just roll up a receiving blankie to keep baby 'in its place'.