The Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (2005) identifies four risk factors, which include sex, age, race, and family history. A Meta analysis by Sullivan & Barlow (2001) revealed that, male babies are more vulnerable to SIDS than female babies; babies aged 2-3 months are at more risk of SIDS; African Americans and native Indians are at a higher risk of developing SIDS; and that infants having other siblings who have died of SIDS are more vulnerable of succumbing to SIDS. Sullivan & Barlow (2001) identified a number of maternal risk factors linked to pregnancy such as smoking cigarettes, insufficient prenatal care, drug and alcohol use, and teenage mothers under 20. Sullivan & Barlow (2001) also identified a number of postnatal risk factors such as the prone sleeping position, lack of breastfeeding, high or low room temperatures, anemia, and …show more content…
The first prevention measure recommended by Hunt (2007) entails ensuring that there is sufficient air circulation in the room that the baby is sleeping. According to a study undertaken by Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) involving about 500 babies, there was a positive correlation between adequate air circulation using a fan and a reduced risk of SIDS. Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) asserts that this measure is plausible since a baby sleeping in a prone position often has his/her nose on the sleeping surface, which increases the chances of the baby re-inhaling some of the already exhaled air that is rich in carbon dioxide and low in oxygen. Using a fan in the sleeping room could play an integral role in mixing the exhalation into the air in the room; thus, reducing the SIDS risk associated with infant hypoxia. Moon, Horne, & Hauck (2007) reported that using a fan for air circulation reduced the SIDS risk by about 72 percent; therefore, poor sleeping environments should be well