253 Chapter 11 Providing for the Infant’s Developmental Needs
fi ve or six months. At this age, babies
often take a short morning nap and a
long afternoon nap. Most babies drop
the morning nap between 9 and 15
months. They may continue to take
an afternoon nap until three to fi ve
years of age. This nap may gradually
shorten as a child grows.
Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS) is a major cause of deaths in
infants during their fi rst year of life.
In many cases, seemingly healthy
babies simply stop breathing in their
sleep. Unfortunately, the cause of
SIDS is unknown. Some experts think
the cause may be a virus or bacterial
infection that attacks the brain stem
(where breathing is controlled)
before or shortly after birth. The most
common age for SIDS to strike is
between two and four months. Some
children even die for unexplained
reasons after one year of age. Such
deaths are called Sudden Unexplained
Death in Childhood (SUDC).
Although the exact cause of SIDS
is still unknown, some risk factors
are known, 11-10. For example,
studies have noted a danger in
babies who sleep on their stomachs.
Stomach-sleeping may put pressure
on the baby’s jaw and thus narrow
the airway. It also increases the risk
of the infant rebreathing exhaled
air. This exhaled air (which contains
carbon dioxide rather than oxygen)
might become trapped in a pocket
around the baby’s mouth by a soft
mattress, fl uffy blanket, stuffed toy, or
pillow near the face. The pocket holds
the exhaled carbon dioxide, which
the baby then breathes back into the
lungs. Many babies and older children
would awaken if they lacked oxygen.
However, SIDS babies may have a
brain abnormality or immaturity that
prevents them from awakening and
moving. Furthermore, some very
young babies may not be able to raise
their heads, leaving them trapped to
rebreathe the exhaled air.
Research continues for the cause
and prevention of SIDS. Until a
prevention is found, parents can
take the following positive steps to
protect their infants:
Avoid as many of the risk
factors as possible both before
and after the baby is born.
Place baby on a fi rm mattress.
Do not use fl uffy blankets,
comforters, throws, stuffed toys,
or pillows in the bed. (Display
Risk Factors for Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Caregivers should discuss with their doctors
ways to protect infants who are at high risk for
SIDS. These are infants who meet any of the
following conditions:
being born to a teen mother
lacking prenatal care
being exposed to tobacco, alcohol, or illegal
drugs (especially cocaine) before birth
being born more than two weeks before due
date
being born at a low birthweight (less than
5½ pounds)
being part of a multiple birth (especially if
weighing less than 3.3 pounds)
being exposed to cigarette smoke after birth
having an older sibling who died of SIDS
being male and having other risk factors
listed above
being between 2 and 4 months of age
11-10
Certain conditions put infants
at a higher risk for SIDS.