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Sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome - Tips from Other Journals

The sloping sleeping position has been associated with an increased risk of unlooked for infant death syndrome (SIDS). Although the underlying mechanism for this association is unknown, it has been glance ated that airways obstruction may happen in infants lying in this position. Others have contraryed that infants will not rest with their faces straight down and will quickly move round their heads if placed in the inclined position. Chiodini and Thach studied lie in the grave behavior in infants and what issues if any, the prone position uses on ventilation, either by rebreathing or airways obstruction.

Eleven healthy infants (aged six days to six months) were observ during lie in the grave after feeding at their normal time. Infants were placed in the propense position on either soft or firm bedding. A standard hospital crib mattress was used for firm bedding; a corrugated foam rubber incubator pad protected by a sheepskin and a single sheet was used for the impressible type.

While the infants slept brace tests were performed. The first experiment was conducted to evaluate the infants' replication to temperature stimuli, because the temperature environment has been put in mind ofed as a risk factor for SIDS. An ice-filled beaker was placed onward the cheek for one inferior and the reaction was noted. A warm beaker was used alternately as a rule In the second test, the infants' heads were cause to deviateed into a face-down position and the replication was noted. Pulse oximetry, electrocardiogram, a respiratory bellows and a nasal-attached carbon dioxide ([COsub2]) analyzer were used to monitor status.

At any point in the study, all infants were observ sleeping in the face-down, or inclined position, although they were all able to move round their heads out of that position. Also, all infants adopted this position when touched with the arctic stimulus. When the infants slept in the face-down position, inspired [COsub2] was higher, indicating rebreathing in this position. Seven of the 11 infants had increased breathing effort during rebreathing. Oxygen saturation did not change significantly when the infants were in the face-down position.

The authors judge that infants will sleep in the propense position even though they are capable of turning their heads. They put in mind of however, that in some infants lack of might or coordination may affect head motion Also, the response to the bleak stimulus may be related to restoring thermal balance of the visible form [i]or[/i] frame rather than avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. The authors hint that infants be placed forward firm bedding, which might cut down the risk of suffocation, and support the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics that healthy infants be placed in a supine or side sleeping position. (Journal of Pediatrics, November 1993 vol 123 p 686)