Overcoming the fear of SIDS

ThoseWitchyParents · May 2014

Ever since we brought our son home, I've been having panic attacks because I've been worried sick about SIDS. My wife breastfeeds, no one in the house smokes, and we lay him on his back when he sleeps...How did you overcome your fear of SIDS?

Avion22 · May 2014

A woman from my pregnancy group gave birth about a month before me, and her baby died of SIDS at two weeks old It's absolutely terrifying. We just do the best we can to follow all of the guidelines. Just like you we put him to sleep on his back, try to keep the room the right temperature, etc. I don't think there's anything else you CAN do.

KiminATL · May 2014

I worry about this too. I just
found out about a baby monitor, the Snuza Hero, through another group and it apparently monitors the baby's breathing during the night and sounds an alarm if he or she stops breathing. I just ordered it on Amazon! It gets great reviews and I think I will sleep more peacefully with my baby wearing this. Good luck.

babym6705 · May 2014

I have huge anxiety about SIDS too. We follow the guidelines about sleeping on back, no bumpers, etc., but after all that I just have to remind myself unfortunately it is just something that is out of my control.

kalette · May 2014

We bought a snuza go for DS. We didn't have one with DD and I was a mess of worry with her. This time around I feel like I can finally sleep knowing the alarm will go off if he stops moving. Its really helped.

BBColt78 · May 2014

My good friend was having panic attacks like you are mentioning.

She bought one of the movement monitors (as mentioned above) and felt much, much better. It will help with peace of mind, imo.

We have the AngelCare and it helped a lot. I hear snuza is great.

KariB509 · May 2014

As others have said, if you're really worried about it, I would invest in an AngelCare monitor or Snuza. Either would give you the peace of mind you're looking for. GL!

Roeni · May 2014

I feel the same way and am constantly checking him to see if he's breathing. I just bought the angel care monitor from amazon

roo1oo · May 2014

SIDS is incredibly rare. About 2,000 babies dies of SIDS each year in the US, and there are over 4 million babies born each year in the US. That's a .05% chance of death from SIDS, and once they hit 6 months old they're pretty close to the clear zone. That alone helped me feel much better.

Another realization I had to come to was I could only do so much to prevent SIDS, so if I did everything I could to prevent it and it still happened, it was just meant to be - those of you that are religious would call it God's Will.

Do as much as you can to prevent it. Follow the guidelines for a safe sleeping environment. Encourage your wife to breastfeed or feed breastmilk for as long as possible. Don't smoke, and limit exposure to those that are sick for the first 6 weeks or so. And otherwise, stop worrying so much and enjoy your baby!

shaunessa · May 2014

Although my little one gets a good nights sleep, I don't. I'm constantly fearful of this and always wake up to sneak a peek (he sleeps right next to me in his pack n play). I don't know how I'm going to handle it once he moves out of our room!

KM0715 · May 2014

I also bought the snuza and it's helped me so much. Given my anxiety, I don't know how id sleep at night without it.

Avion22 · May 2014

roo1oo said:

SIDS is incredibly rare. About 2,000 babies dies of SIDS each year in the US, and there are over 4 million babies born each year in the US. That's a .05% chance of death from SIDS, and once they hit 6 months old they're pretty close to the clear zone. That alone helped me feel much better.

Another realization I had to come to was I could only do so much to prevent SIDS, so if I did everything I could to prevent it and it still happened, it was just meant to be - those of you that are religious would call it God's Will.

A friend of ours lost her baby to SIDS about a month before our LO was born. It is rare, but it DOES happen. Also, please please please don't ever tell anyone who has lost their baby to SIDS that "it was meant to happen" or "it was God's will" or "heaven needed another angel." It's about the most insensitive thing you could say to someone who lost their baby.

PrimRoseMama · May 2014

You can only take it one nap & one night at a time. It's tough. It does get easier. Do you have a therapist to talk to?

araeh08 · May 2014

I have to say that I was and still am terrified of this. We bought the Snuza as well and it put my mind at ease quite a bit. However, there were a few times that it fell off of our baby's diaper and did the alarm in the middle of the night, and it scared the crap out of us.

Just remember to follow all of the guidelines, talk with your caregivers and any family that babysitsabout SIDS prevention as well. What I found is that what my parents used to do (putting blankets in bed, letting baby sleep on soft surfaces, etc) is not good for SIDS prevention - they just didn't know it back then and haven't read up on it now. Talking with them about it has been a battle, but it's definitely worth it to me to make sure my little guy is safe. It helps me feel better to walk the nanny and MIL through things and show them how to do it, while explaining that it is what the doctor said. They can't argue with that

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