However, a ceiling or portable fan is generally more effective at air circulation. In other words, a fan will help regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in a room. Furthermore, studies have shown that by opening a window in a bub's room, the risk of SIDS is reduced by 36%.
Ventilation Makes a Difference
While researchers still aren't exactly sure what causes SIDS, one potential factor is rebreathing carbon dioxide that has been exhaled. Researchers believe that exhaled carbon dioxide may get trapped near an infant's mouth and nose during sleep when there isn't adequate ventilation.
It is important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16-20°C – with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag– is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies.
Additional Benefits of Having a Fan in Baby's Room
White noise—which also mimics the sounds inside the womb—helps to muffle the noises outside the room so that your baby can fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.
White noise reduces the risk of SIDS.
A relatively famous study (famous if you read a lot about baby sleep, so honestly you should be a little proud if you haven't heard of it) showed that babies had a significant reduction in the risk of SIDS if they had a fan in their room.
Air circulation isn't the most glamorous topic, but it is something worth considering. So, is it safe for your baby to sleep with a fan on? Absolutely.
While the cause of SIDS is unknown, many clinicians and researchers believe that SIDS is associated with problems in the ability of the baby to arouse from sleep, to detect low levels of oxygen, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide.
Results: The majority of SIDS deaths (83%) occurred during night-time sleep, although this was often after midnight and at least four SIDS deaths occurred during every hour of the day.
SIDS usually occurs when a baby is asleep, although it can occasionally happen while they're awake. Parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking while pregnant or after the baby is born, and always placing the baby on their back when they sleep. Find out how to stop smoking.
Infants are sensitive to extremes in temperature and cannot regulate their body temperatures well. Studies have shown that multiple layers or heavy clothing, heavy blankets, and warm room temperatures increase SIDS risk.
A baby needs a well-ventilated and airy room for a comfortable sleep and healthy growth. Thus, pediatricians recommend keeping the babies in a cool and airy environment. Though it is safer to use a cooler or an air conditioner with a newborn, you must take a few precautions. Book an online appointment to consult Dr.
Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths happen before a baby reaches 6 months of age. However, SIDS deaths can happen anytime during a baby's first year. Slightly more boys die of SIDS than girls.
For a 5.6°C (10°F) increase in temperature, the risk of SIDS increased by 8.6% (95% CI: 3.6%, 13.8%) in the summer (Jun-Aug) and decreased by 3.1% (95% CI: -5.0%, -1.3%) in the winter (Dec-Feb) (Figure 2).
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
Babies might have a higher risk of SIDS if: their mother smoked, drank, or used drugs during pregnancy and after birth. their mother had poor prenatal care. they were born prematurely or at a low birth weight.
Goodstein said, when babies sleep in the same room as their parents, the background sounds or stirrings prevent very deep sleep and that helps keeps the babies safe. Room sharing also makes breast-feeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.
Use a firm, flat (not at an angle or inclined) sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet. Keep your baby's sleep area (for example, a crib or bassinet) in the same room where you sleep, ideally until your baby is at least 6 months old.
Other things that SIDS is not: SIDS is not the same as suffocation and is not caused by suffocation. SIDS is not caused by vaccines, immunizations, or shots. SIDS is not contagious.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
As indicated above, prone swaddled infants are at greatly increased risk for SIDS 8. Particularly relevant here, is that two published studies found that swaddling actually reduces SIDS risk when infants sleep in the supine position 8, 10.
Fans should never blow directly on the baby and should be out of baby's reach. A lukewarm bath or cool wash cloth can help cool baby down. In very hot weather, take your baby somewhere with air-conditioning such as a mall or a friend's house. If you have air conditioning, your home may be cool enough.
Does it matter if air from a fan is blowing directly onto a child? No, not really. It will not cause them to get sick. Some kids might find it stimulating (or just the opposite) but it won't add or detract from their state of wellness.
Do not let your baby's head become covered. Babies whose heads are covered with bedding are at an increased risk of SIDS. To prevent your baby wriggling down under the covers, place them in the "feet to foot" position. This means their feet are at the end of the crib, cot or moses basket.
This is because swallowing rate is reduced significantly, and there is no compensatory increase in arousal. The reduction in airway protective reflexes when in the prone position and in active sleep may be the mechanism for the increased risk of SIDS in the prone position.