Sudden infant death syndrome, also referred to as crib death, is the reason listed for roughly 2,500 infant deaths in the United States each year. The actual reason for these deaths is unknown, however. Babies between the ages of 1 month and 1...
Each year, thousands of families lose their baby to stillbirth, miscarriage, SIDS, prematurity complications or accidents. The grief felt from such a loss can be overwhelming, but with proper support and time, families may decide to either try to...
Head trauma is the most common cause of accidental death in infancy, David Graham of the Institute of Neurological Science in Glasgow, Scotland, reports in the July 2001 issue of "Brain." Accidental head trauma occurs frequently in infants. While...
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also called crib death, is diagnosed when an infant under one-year-old dies and no medical cause is found. Most often the death occurs in a crib during the night and there's nothing a parent could have done....
According to the American Cancer Society, 10 to 16 percent of women smoke throughout their pregnancies, putting themselves and their babies at risk for a number of health issues. In fact, up to 5 percent of infant deaths would be prevented if...
Crib bumpers are a beautiful item of decor, seemingly essential to any nursery. However, research indicates that crib bumpers often do not protect babies and have been attributed to many infant deaths and injury. It is vital that parents and...
A baby sling is a convenient and often soothing way to carry your baby throughout the day. While leaving your hands free, a pouch or pocket sling keeps your baby in a comfortable position while you attack daily chores. Peanut Shell Baby Slings...
Breast-feeding is a natural and generally safe practice. It can help prevent infections and reduce the risk of cot death, or sudden infant death syndrome, according to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, FSID. Despite how tired you may...
According to BabySake.com, nine infant deaths are attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome every day in the United States. Also referred to as SIDS, suddent infant death is the term used to explain the unexpected death of an infant less than 1...
Removing crib bumpers may not seem like a way to protect your baby, but evidence suggests they do more harm than good. Crib bumper pads were originally intended to keep little bodies from slipping through spaces between slats wide enough to admit...
Tobacco users may realize their own risks for health problems related to smoking but not the side effects of their passive, or secondhand, smoke on others. Passive smoke is directly attributed to nearly 50,000 deaths from cancer and heart disease...
Co-dependent sleeping, or co-sleeping, is part of a natural approach to parenting. This form of sleeping can help to ease the transition from bed to crib to, ultimately, the child's own room for both baby and mom. Even parents who usually have...
Putting your baby to sleep at night shouldn't have to be a stressful or worrisome time. Even so, every year almost 35 babies in the United States die as a result of injuries sustained in a crib, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety...
Serotonin is a chemical substance also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine that is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, notes Encyclopedia Britannica. It is a vasoconstrictor, which means it aids in the narrowing of blood vessels. It also functions as...
Some babies seem to hate wearing pajamas at night, fussing while wearing the sleepwear and then calming once it's off. Letting your baby sleep in just his diaper will save on laundry and it may help your baby sleep, but the safety of this choice...
According to the American Heath Association (AHA), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique used after sudden cardiac arrest. Like adult CPR, infant CPR is a dual procedure during which rescue breathing provides oxygen to the...
Picking out the perfect crib set from the sheets, mobile and bumper is a part of nesting, the powerful urge to prepare for your baby's arrival. Although crib bumpers are sold with most crib sets, they are unnecessary and actually dangerous. Since...
Smoking is a habit that has many disadvantages. Beside the impact smoking has on health, it has an impact on your wallet and your social life. Before deciding to start or if you are not sure if you should quit, you should be aware of the damage...
Smoking is harmful to you and those you expose to your secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from the lit end of your cigarette and exhalation from the smoker. A teenager with parents who smoke is more than two times as likely...
The American Cancer Society reports that one in five persons in the United States smokes. If you are considering quitting smoking, you should look at the positive effects it will have on your life. Need something to convince you? There are health...
Polish biochemist Casimir Funk first theorized that your diet can influence your health due to the presence of what he called "vital amines" in the foods you eat. Funk learned that a lack of vitamin B1 resulted in a disorder called beriberi, and...
Cigarettes contain many dangerous chemicals, with nicotine and carbon monoxide being among the most hazardous to your health. If you're pregnant, these poisons get into the placenta, which is the tissue that connects you to your baby and sends...
Stillbirth refers to the delivery of an infant who died in the uterus. The American Pregnancy Association points out that this term is only used for infant deaths that take place after the 20th week of pregnancy. Only one in 200 pregnancies end...
Since 5-month-old infants are too young for over-the-counter cough medications, parents need to rely on other methods to help their coughing infant. While simple home remedies are often effective at managing an infant's cough, some coughs are...
Every state in the United States requires that all infants and small children are put into a child safety seat. Putting your child into a safety seat is the best protection you can give your child as automobile crashes are the leading cause in...
Although you may be able to remember that you are eating for two while pregnant, you must also remember that any substance that has an effect on you may also have an effect on your unborn child. Caffeine is problematic in pregnancy only at higher...
Tachycardia is the medical term for a very rapid heartbeat. Mothers who have special medical conditions, such as thyroid disease or diabetes, may give birth to newborns who are temporarily tachycardic from altered hormone and glucose levels....
Quitting smoking is stressful for most people, but it can be especially stressful when you’re dealing with pregnancy hormones, changes to your body and a decreased energy level. However, quitting halfway through your pregnancy does not...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a child born to a teen mother is more likely to have behavior problems, chronic medical issues and lower proficiency scores upon entering kindergarten. He is at risk of being...
Yellow fever, or American plague, is an acute viral disease leading to many deadly epidemics in its history. Learn about yellow fever, including treatment options, in this health video.
