SIDS Prevention with Baby Safe Sleep

Baby Safe Sleep is a crib mounted, targeted air conditioning system (not a swamp cooler) that delivers cool, clean, filtered air, and creates a cool sleeping environment (minimum -18 Degrees Fahrenheit from ambient) over and around a sleeping infant, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by keeping the infant at pediatricians recommended sleeping temperature of between 68° and 72° Fahrenheit. The average thermostat setting in the USA is around 78°F, much too warm for infants. Based on research of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) from Bar-Ilan University, Israel and Boston University, Boston. This research indicates that the neuronal noise signal in the brain and the associated arousal spikes in infants are directly related to temperature regulation. High body temperature can lead to low neuronal noise, thus reducing the possibility for arousals. "In contrast, when the temperature is lower, an infant has higher neuronal noise level that yield more and higher amplitude arousals which jolt or shock the infant to move quickly and breathe normally.  Neuronal noise as an origin of sleep arousals and its role in sudden infant death syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov)

Dr. Lisa Gabhart, a pediatrician at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, states that parents need to be watchful that the baby is not too warm. Baby Safe Sleep keeps infants cool and thermally balanced throughout the entire sleeping cycle. Contrary to what many people think, babies do best in a cool environment (68–72˚F). 

Ongoing research has identified several risk factors in the sleep environment that are associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). One of these is infant overheating, caused by either a room that is too warm or bundling the infant in blankets and clothes. Studies show that when a baby is too warm, he or she may not respond as readily to low oxygen signals in the brain, which increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Heat stress and hyperthermia are common findings in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) victims. It has been suggested that thermal stress can increase the risk of SIDS directly via lethal hyperthermia or indirectly by altering autonomic functions. Major changes in sleep, thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, and the emergence of circadian functions occur at the age at which the risk of SIDS peaks-explaining the greater vulnerability at this stage of development. Here, we review the literature data on (i) heat stress and hyperthermia as direct risk factors for SIDS, and (ii) the indirect effects of thermal loads on vital physiological functions. Hyperthermia and Heat Stress as Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Narrative Review - PubMed (nih.gov)