What is an important action to teach parents to help prevent SIDS?

Teaching parents that ensuring the baby sleeps with a pacifier is an important action to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is based on several key findings. Research has indicated that the use of a pacifier during sleep may reduce the risk of SIDS. The exact mechanism is not entirely clear, but it is thought that pacifiers may help maintain an open airway or promote arousal from sleep, thus decreasing the likelihood of a fatal event.

When a baby uses a pacifier during naptime and nighttime, this practice is associated with a lower incidence of SIDS, making it a recommended strategy for caregivers. It is important to note that offering a pacifier should initially be done when the infant is settled and ready to sleep but not yet established in a breastfeeding routine, to avoid potential breastfeeding complications.

In contrast, other options have been recognized as unsafe practices. Allowing babies to sleep in a side position or on a soft surface increases the risk of suffocation due to possible obstruction of the airway. Similarly, the use of bumper pads has been discouraged because they pose a risk of entrapment and suffocation. Therefore, emphasizing the use of a pacifier as a prevention method aligns with current recommendations and guidelines for reducing SIDS risk