Coping with DDH whilst avoiding SIDS risk factors

An article was just published in Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics journal. It has found that a significant number of parents still place “their infants in sleep environments with established risk factors”.

You could probably stop a teenage boy on the street and ask him what SIDS is and he’d likely give a fairly acceptable answer. SIDS health promotion and education campaigning has been hugely successful. The harrowing SIDS statistics have been significantly reduced, yet still many parents are ignoring the guidelines.

DDH and SIDS risk factors

It occurred to me that many of us probably stray from the guidelines whilst finding positions to settle our babies during treatment for DDH.

soft bedding in the sleep environment is the most common risk factor seen in sudden and unexpected infant deaths that occur in infants aged ≥4 months.

Some recommend placing a rolled up towel under the legs. Others use a soft piece of foam or a pillow under their backs. A few use rockers/baby bouncers for daytime naps. Co-sleeping is common, in attempt to get some rest for all.

This isn’t an article to attack or have a go at DDH parents. I am a DDH parent and I can see how easy it is for parents to stray from the guidelines. I don’t have the solutions as to how we minimise these risks in our quest for some sleep during DDH treatment. I have though, added safe sleeping positions during DDH treatment to the list of things to explore.

Links

Nocturnal Video Assessment of Infant Sleep Environments

Healthy Hips Australia Safe Swaddling Guidelines

Royal Children’s Hospital Video on Safe Wrapping

Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network Safe Wrapping Flyer – Royal Children’s Hospital

SIDS Safe Sleeping Information Statement – Wrapping Babies

SIDS and Kids Safe Wrapping – Guidelines for safe wrapping of young babies

Swaddling: IHDI Position Statement

Written: August 2016

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