So scared about SIDS

They had discussion on Montel Williams yesterday about SIDS and SUDC (sudden unexplained death of a child) which is basically the same as SIDS for a child over 12 months. They had some parents on there who lost children this way and it made me so sad to see them. Then I woke up a few times last night to check on my babies. I am so worried I am going to lose them this way. I've taken all the precautions about sleeping arrangements. I am just so worried they are going to stop breathing in their sleep. Every time I check on them I am scared I am going to find them face down and not breathing. Do other people feel like this or am I the only one?

 

YOur not the only one. Im terrified of SIDS. After having had a loss, I just get all crazy worrying that I will lose these girls too. Especially now that they will only sleep on their tummies. Unfortunatly the only thing we can do is pray our babies will be fine and be careful what we let them sleep with.

 

I totally understand where you're coming from. However, I try to keep my faith in God. As long as I am doing all that I can to prevent anything bad from happening then that is all I can do. God has control of the rest and what will happen will happen. Just try to keep your faith!

 

While my boys sleep through the night, I don't. I constantly wake up and check them. I even put my hand on them to make sure they are breathing. If you do all you can to make sure they are safe (i.e. flat surface to sleep on, only light blankets, etc) you can only pray that they will be fine.

The thing is, now that people are more aware of SIDS, the rates have gone down. If you are aware of the issue and factors that can cause SIDS then you can do your best to prevent it.

 

You are definitely not the only one. I'm also terrified of this! One of my DDs is rarely happy on her back...because of reflux I think. Our GI specialist told us that I could put her on her stomach if I was sitting right next to her. I don't even like doing that, but some days she won't ever sleep if I don't. So, I sit there shifting her head if her nose even gets close to the blanket. Ugh. I just keep praying they the girls stay happy and healthy!!

 

I worry about this all the time too. Funny thing is that I didn't with my first two. But a friend of mine lost one of the babies she babysits for last year and that made it very real to me. That baby was 9 months old and she was sleeping on her mommy's chest on the couch when it happened. They declared it as SIDS. I'm so terrified that I won't let my DH fall asleep with the girls on his chest unless he's sitting up. Of course, he thinks I'm crazy. But, whatever.

I don't sleep well anymore either. I'm constantly listening and watching and touching their hands or cheeks to get a reaction before I can go back to sleep for a bit.

Plus right now, since my babies get so fussy sleeping on their backs (even with the bed inclined), we've got them sleeping in their boppy pillows. They look very comfortable, but I'm not sure how safe they are...so I worry.

You're not alone! ~Laura

 

When they turn 2, I'm going to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I can't believe the baby that died while sleeping on his mother's chest. Wow! I guess if it's going to happen, there isn't much you can do aside from take the recommended precautions.

 

I saw the Montel show yesterday too and now am even more paranoid than I was before. We still have them sleeping in our room in the co-sleeper, and I can easily check on them and make sure they are breathing (which I do often!). I'm just scared to move them to their room where I can't be right next to them during the night!

I keep praying that they will be safe at night and do what I can to make sure they are safe. It is interesting to think that when my husband and I were infants, we are both 30, it was standard practice to put babies on their tummies. So make sure your family members know about "back to sleep, tummy to play" if they take care of your babies.

 

I saw the show too and it's scary! How old were the 2 babies that died of SUDC? I think one was 18 months but didn't hear the other one's age.

When my 2 were younger I was scared of SIDS everytime I laid them down! I got some comfort in buying those sleep postioners that help to keep them on their sides or back.

 

You are so not alone. I co-sleep with them and check to ensure breathing all the time. I feel paranoid some days! I know of two babies this year who died of SIDS. One of the grandpa's worked with my husband so he had to go to the funeral. I obviously could not handle going. After that, I check breathing. I just put my hand under their noses to feel their breath. Its so scary!!

 

I also worry about SIDS, but I make sure my babies are as safe as I can and that is really the best I can do. After that I leave it in Heavenly Father's hands.

 

Like others have said, I worry about SIDS but I calm myself by remembering that I'm following all the guidelines that they know of: putting them on their backs, bf'ing, not smoking... Also, I find peace in knowing that I'm loving them and cherishing them as much as I can, so if (G-d forbid) I lost one, I would have no regrets over the life they lived. It's such an awful thought, though - I try not to dwell on my worries about it.

 

Your defiantly not alone, as allot of others have said, I was terrified and still am of SIDS, I kept the girls in their bassinets in our room for as long as possible before they got to big.

 

I got the angelcare monitor - and it helped a LOT! I don't worry so much now.

They monitor your child's breathing and an alarm goes off if they do not breathe for 15 seconds. You can also set it to "tick" each time the baby breathes - and that is a comforting sound to listen to at night. You need one for each child and they have to be in seperate cribs. They are $60-100 each - ebay or babiesrus or target.com.

I highly recommend them!

 

Kimberlee, has the alarm ever gone off? I am definitely going to look into those. I never even thought about getting those before, but it would give me so much peace of mind, and I'll probably get more sleep because I won't be waking up every few hours to go check on them. OMG I wonder if they ever stopped breathing and started up again and I didn't know it? Is that common?

 

Kristie,
The thing goes off all the time, but only because we constantly take them out of their cribs and forget to turn off the alarm. It has never gone off while they were still in the crib.

It has a sensitivity level adjustor, but says only to adjust it if it goes off for no reason, I have never changed it. I have read reviews from others about this monitor and they say it sometimes goes off unnecessarily, but they would rather that than it be not sensitive enough.

Here is the link on amazon.com

http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-54499...gelcare+monitor

I would read the reviews - there are hundreds of them - there are actually stories of times when this product has saved lives. The alarm goes off and parents find their babies choking or blue or stuff.

Scary.

I LOVE these monitors and even if/when they do go off for no reason, it is still worth it!

Kimberlee

 

I was terrified too until they started becoming independantly mobile...my son is a tummy sleeper, but often times I will find him on his side in the morning and my daughter has always been a side sleeper...once they started rolling and holding their heads up well I calmed down a bit...I have the Sony Baby Call monitor and when its turned up you can hear the kids breathing...I slept with that thing at top volume and next to my ear for MONTHS!

I'm not very religious but as the PP said - I do leave it in God's hands and say a little prayer each night...