The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 155, Issue 4 , Pages 461-462 , October 2009

Does Swaddling Decrease or Increase the Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

  • Bradley T. Thach, MD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Bradley Thach, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, Campus Box 8208, St Louis, MO 63110.

References 

  1. Richardson HL, Walker AM, Horne RSC. Minimizing the risks of sudden infant death syndrome: to swaddle or not to swaddle?. J Pediatr. 2009;155:475–481
  2. Thach BT. Sleep, sleep position, and the sudden infant death syndrome. To sleep or not to sleep? That is the question. J Pediatr. 2001;138:793–795
  3. Thach BT, Harris KA, Krous HF. The potential role of pulmonary arteriolar medial smooth muscle thickening in the sudden unclassified death of a young infant. BMJ. 2009;
  4. Wulbrand H, McNamara F, Thach BT. The role of arousal related brainstem reflexes in causing recovery from upper airway occlusion in infants. Sleep. 2008;31:833–840
  5. Thoppil CK, Belan MA, Cowen CP, Mathew OP. Behavioral arousal in newborn infants and its association with termination of apnea. J Appl Physiol. 1991;70:2479–2484
  6. Davies AM, Koenig JS, Thach BT. Characteristics of upper airway chemoreflex prolonged apnea in human infants. Am Rev Resp Dis. 1989;139:668–673
  7. Garrick WD, Waters KA. Influence of sleep state on frequency of swallowing, apnea, and arousal in human infants. J Appl Physiol. 2003;94:2456–2464
  8. Ponsonby AL, Dwyer T, Gibbons LE, Cochrane JA, Wang YG. Factors potentiating the risk of sudden infant death syndrome associated with the prone position. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:377–382
  9. Fleming P. Research and current advice: an overview. Presented at the SIDS 10th International Conference, Portsmouth, UK, 2008.
  10. Wilson CA, Taylor BJ, Laing RM, Williams SM, Mitchell EA. Clothing and bedding and its relevance to sudden infant death syndrome: further results from the New Zealand Cot Death Study. J Paediatr Child Health. 1994;30:506–512
  11. Gerard CM, Harris KA, Thach BTT. Physiologic studies in swaddling: an ancient childcare practice, which may promote the supine for infant sleep. J Pediatr. 2002;141:398–404
  12. Narangerel G, Pollock J, Manaseki-Holland S, Henderson J. The effects of swaddling on oxygen saturation and respiratory rate of healthy infants in Mongolia. Acta Paediatr. 2007;96:261–265
  13. Karp H. The Happiest Baby on the Block. New York: Bantam; 2002;

 Supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD-10993.

PII: S0022-3476(09)00556-3

doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.06.011

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 155, Issue 4 , Pages 461-462 , October 2009