Re: Flat head from sleeping on back-OT-SIDS theory

January 15, 2006

Hello,

I was wondering if a baby would even be able to comfortably sleep on stomach

with the DBB and shoes on?

I always have my baby sleep on her back or side (if she's in bed with us

which has been the case so far....but we're going to work on that).

I don't know if you'll find this interesting but a few years ago I came

across an article about SIDS in a local parenting publication.

It was about a forensic chemist in New Zealand who has studied SIDS and has

come up with some theories about it.

To sum it up, he believes that the chemicals that are used on baby

mattresses as fire retardants (arsenic, antimony, phosphorous) combine with

the molds and mildews that occur due to warmth from baby and baby's breath

to create a toxic nerve gas.

He says this is why the back sleeping has decreased SIDS rates as the gas is

heavy and low-lying and if baby is on stomach, they breathe more of it in.

Also, this is why he believes bumper-pads are risky as they trap the gas in

around the baby.

He developed a mattress cover (Babesafe mattress cover) of a special plastic

that encloses the mattress and the chemicals that it contains. This way the

chemicals are not able to mix with the mold/mildew and create this gas.

I bought one from a distributor here in Canada for about $24 and put it over

the mattress b/c I figure, since no one really knows for sure why SIDS

happens, $24 is a small price to pay if it indeed his theory is correct.

Anyway, his website is www.cotlife2000.com and you can e-mail him with any

questions and he usually responds right away. This seems to be his passion

and he has promoted this practice in New Zealand and Australia and there

have been no SIDS deaths reported on properly wrapped mattresses. He also

says to use all cotton bedding and mattress pads, nothing synthetic or

things such as water-proof mattress pads.

Anyway, just something you might find interesting and his website is

definitely worth checking.

Anyway, just as an aside, you should always try to avoid

furniture/mattresses or anything that has been treated with fire-retardants

such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers. I think California has ordered that

they must be banned by 2007. The European Union has already banned them and

some big companies such as Sony has stopped using them as well (they are

often in electronics). Ikea doesn't have it in any of their furniture b/c

they are Swedish. This chemical is in breastmilk and European and Japanese

women have 8-10times less than N. American women b/c it has been phased out

for several years in those countries. Anyway, this is off-topic but it

really makes me angry that Canada and US seem to be the last to take action

on these sorts of things. Anyway, check out www.checnet.org for more info.

This is an AMAZING resource for parents...it is the Children's Health

Environmental Coalition (Olivia Newton- and Preston are on the

board so you may have heard of this through their appearances of different

shows). You can sign up for monthly e-newsletters that are always

informative and have important info about kids and things that can impact

their health.

Anyway, sorry to be long-winded but I think this website is so great for

parents to know about and one day, when I have lots of time (LOL!) I would

love to lobby for causes like this (banned PBDEs etc).

Halley

Re: Flat head from sleeping on back

I haven't read the replies, so sorry if I repeat. did this at first

too! I wouldn't worry too much. As he gets older and starts rolling, he

will do this in the brace as well as things with round out. Until then,

position him on his belly or side while he is awake and your are playing

with him. Try to keep him off his back as much as you can while you are

awake. I would even sometimes move during his naps because he was a

pretty sound sleeper. Their heads are pretty pliable until past one, so

once he is more mobile it will get better.

11/19/04

novemberfable wrote:

Ok. Here's another problem I am facing. As most of you know, Marcus is

now in the brace. Prior to wearing the brace, I would place

him on his side to sleep. Now that he's in the brace, he can't sleep

on his sides because of the awkward position of the brace. He is

getting a flat head in the back from sleeping on his back so much. I

try to turn his head to the side while he is on his back, but he

doesn't like that. Does anyone have the same problem? Or do any of you

have any tips/advice on how to solve this problem?

January 16, 2006

I've heard about that study. AS far as tummy sleeping, they'll get used to it

if they want to. Everett lays on his tummy with his knees pulled up under him.

s.