Swaddling and SIDS - not simple

Article Outline

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Supine positioning clearly decreases the incidence of SIDS. Traditionally, infants are swaddled during sleep. Richardson et al asked if swaddling altered respiratory arousal responses that are important to aborting SIDS-like events. They found that swaddling did decrease cortical arousal responses in infants who had not previously been swaddled for sleep. Swaddling also can increase respiratory rate, presumably by limiting lung volumes with tidal breathing. In an accompanying editorial, Thach explains the multiple effects of swaddling on potential risks for SIDS and concludes that the advantages of swaddling infants for sleeping in the supine position outweigh any risks. The study contributes to the information that respiratory control in infants will be responsive to multiple environmental factors and care practices. Even swaddling infants is not simple — there can be acute and adaptive respiratory control responses.

Article page 475▸

Editorial page 461▸