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Back sleeping reduces SIDS risk
(CNN) -- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome -- or SIDS -- has been a mystery for decades. But the results from a large study released Monday confirm what researchers have been recommending for the past 10 years -- putting infants on their backs to sleep greatly reduces the risk of SIDS. Rates of SIDS decreased by 50 percent since this policy was introduced. Still, the message isn't getting to all groups. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta joined anchor Bill Hemmer to take a look at the problem. GUPTA: I will tell you first of all SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants one month to one year old. That is an important thing to keep in mind. SIDS, or crib death, leads to about 5,000 deaths per year. People really don't know what causes it. However, there has been a great deal of research now, and now more evidence that, in fact, the way that the baby sleeps in the crib, actually sleeping on his or her stomach greatly contributes to that, leading to about a third of all SIDS deaths. What is sort of remarkable is that the number of SIDS deaths overall in the United States is actually two to three times higher among African-American communities, almost three times higher among Native American communities, and one fifth of all SIDS deaths actually occur in day care settings, especially in day care settings where older, retired women -- who haven't received the message about how to prevent SIDS deaths -- work. HEMMER: And when we look at that, what advice do you give the parents? GUPTA: Some important tips here. Babies sleeping on their backs. There is one point that I can get across here. This is really crucial. People worry about aspiration or choking. That just isn't true. That just doesn't happen with babies sleeping on their backs. Firm mattresses. You don't want them to sink in and possibly block the airway, nose, or mouth. Remove all fluffy and loose bedding. This is an increasing problem in the colder months, I think in part because of some respiratory infection, but also in part because a lot of loose bedding finds its way into the crib. Rather, put the baby in a sleeper, as opposed to putting a lot of bedding around the baby, and keep the face and head uncovered at all times during sleep. Tuck in the blanket so it can't get above the chest. I will say, again, that no one knows exactly for sure what causes SIDS, and this isn't always the cause, but this certainly can help.
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