SIDS Safety: Benefits Of Mattress Wrapping And How It Helps SIDS Prevention

You can prevent SIDS by using several preventative methods, like mattress wrapping. Use a ventilated mattress for your infant and avoid letting him sleep on his stomach, overheating, or with too many clothes or toys. For healthier and safer sleep for your infant, keep an eye on their hours of sleep and utilize mattress wrapping.

SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome, is an unexpected death that occurs mainly in infants, especially during sleep. SIDS is also known as “cot death” since most infants die while in their baby cots.

SIDS mainly affect infants born with low birth weight and those born prematurely. It’ll strike infants mostly during their first six months after birth. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

Statistics show that the number of infants that die unexpectedly from SIDS in the UK is around 200 annually. It’s, therefore, a rare condition, and the risk of your infant dying from it is very low.

As a parent, you must take every vital measure to protect your infant by taking essential steps to prevent SIDS. There are many pieces of advice and opinion regarding this, like placing the infant on their back when asleep or parents not smoking while pregnant or after delivering.

One primary SIDS prevention that is commonly used is mattress wrapping. It’s not only simple but an affordable method that can reduce the risk of SIDS.

What is mattress wrapping?

The type of mattress your infant sleeps on could put them at risk for SIDS.

According to Dr. James Sprott, a New Zealand scientist and chemist, Cot’s death is mainly caused by toxic gases such as arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus generated from a mattress. These gases are used as fire retardants.

Once an infant inhales these toxic gas, their central nervous system stops functioning, stopping the heart function and breathing, causing SIDS.

Creating a safe and comfortable sleeping area for your infant is essential as a parent. This is where mattress wrapping comes in.

Mattress wrapping makes the infant’s sleeping environment safe

Mattress wrapping is a process that involves covering your infant’s mattress with a cover designed specifically to prevent harmful chemicals, fungus, and gas from reaching and being inhaled by your infant hence causing SIDS.

These toxic chemicals, fungus, and gas are contained in the mattress, keeping your infant’s sleeping environment safe. Mattress wrapping is a simple and effective SIDS prevention technique many parents use. It’s easy to do it yourself and affordable.

How to wrap a mattress

Mattress wrapping for SIDS prevention is simple, something you can do as a parent. Here are some of the materials you will need to start mattress wrapping:

• An adhesive tape
• A pair of scissors
• A unique mattress cover/wrap

Mattress wrapping instructions

1. Take correct measurements of your infants mattress to make sure you have the right size cover
2. Lay the cover flat on a clean surface and place the mattress on top of it
3. Trim the cover to the correct size, leaving a little extra piece on each side for tucking
4. Tuck in the cover tightly and neatly around the mattress edges
5. Use adhesive tape to hold the cover in place

You are done! The mattress is wrapped and ready for your infant’s safe sleep.

Note that not all mattresses can be wrapped. Therefore, verifying with the manufacturer before covering your infant’s mattress is essential.

In addition, always adhere strictly to safety guidelines to ensure your infant’s secure and safe sleeping environment.

The science behind mattress wrapping

Mattress wrapping is a new SIDS prevention method many parents and healthcare professionals use today. But how effective is mattress wrapping?

According to Dr. James Sprott, a consulting chemist and forensic scientist, mattress wrapping has helped reduce the SIDS rate significantly but has not completely eradicated it. The wrap or cover is used to prevent toxic gas found in the mattress from escaping. 

When an infant inhales these gases, it can cause respiratory complications leading to SIDS. Mattress wrapping, therefore, creates a safe sleeping environment for your infant.

Benefits of mattress wrapping

Mattress wrapping protects the infant from inhaling harmful gases found in the mattress. Below are some of the benefits of mattress wrapping.

1. Affordable and easy to use

For parents looking for an easy and affordable SIDS prevention method, mattress wrapping is the way to go. Parents can quickly wrap a mattress with basic instructions and cheap materials.

2. Low SIDS risk

One of the main benefits of mattress wrapping is that it can reduce the chances of SIDS in infants.

Harmful gases such as arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus generated from a mattress can cause respiratory issues in an infant leading to SIDS.

Mattress wrapping contains these gases so the infant does not directly inhale them, making their sleeping environment safe.

3. It’s non-invasive

Mattress wrapping is a non-invasive SIDS prevention method compared to breathing equipment or monitors. It doesn’t require any extra tools or equipment that could disturb the infant.

4. Readily available

Many companies sell mattress covers designed explicitly for mattress wrapping. Making it more affordable and easy to find.

Tips for SIDS prevention

Although mattress wrapping can be a helpful method for reducing the risk of SIDS, below are other ways to keep your infant safe.

1. Place your infant to sleep on their back but not the side or stomach, as this can lead to SIDS.
2. Keep the baby’s cot as empty as possible. Avoid placing fluffy items, pillows, or toys around the infant, as this can lead to suffocation.
3. Don’t overheat your infant with too much clothing. Keep the infant warm by using light clothing around them. Do not cover the infant’s head.
4. Sleep in the same room with your infant but in a crib alone if possible. Sleeping with the infant on the same bed with you can lead to suffocation if the baby gets trapped between the mattress and the walls or the heavy duvet covers. Putting the baby in its crib can also help monitor breathing and movements, reducing the risk of SIDS.
5. Breastfeed your infant for at least six months. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS as well.

Conclusion

Although mattress wrapping cannot guarantee SIDS prevention, it is a safer way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Mattress wrapping helps prevent exposure of toxic gases to the mattress, creating a safer sleeping environment for your infant, as one of my friends saved her baby’s life. Her baby was born with short breath and low weight problems.

Owing to the cold weather, she was always trying to put a lot of clothes on him and keep him in a hot temperature even while sleeping in a cot. This was not a good idea at all.

Timely education from her doctor about mattress wrapping and using breathable clothes saved the baby’s life.

Don’t overstuff your baby; apply mattress wrapping and other preventive measures for the baby’s safety.

FAQs

References

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20352800
• https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/safesleepbasics/causes