90% of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths are mainly due to maternal smoking, according to Bristol University researchers. Smoking women are four times more likely to lose their babies to SIDS death than non-smoking women. Babies of smoking mothers are at greater risk due to passive smoking. Number of hours the baby is exposed to smoking is in direct relationship to risk of his/her death.

This research report on cot deaths was done by the Institute of Child Life and Health and published in the “Journal of Early Human Development”.

Even though both SIDS deaths and smoking among pregnant women (25% to 15%) are in decline, percentage of SIDS deaths due to smoking is rising (57% to 86%) in recent days. 60% of SIDS deaths can be prevented if no women smokes during pregnancy. But researchers failed to give exact causes for this high incidence of SIDS deaths and smoking. Smoking may affect brain chemical balance and prevent development of the lungs.

Most of the cot deaths were prevented by giving proper training on the significance of sleeping position of infants. But deaths due to pregnant smoking are not under control.

How to prevent cot deaths?

 

1. Expectant women should not smoke under any circumstances. 

2. Parents should not smoke at home. Passive smoking kills babies.

Save baby life by not smoking.

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