When did you stop worrying about SIDS?

[chaosisaladder]

My youngest DC is 20 months (I think!) and I had thought that we were out of the woods in that regard by now, but I heard a story on the radio this afternoon about an 18 month old who sadly passed away from SIDS.

When did you stop worrying?

Well I still check that my 11yr old is breathing when I go up to bed

However in all seriousness he had a cot breathing monitor thing that he had to pass down to his new sister when he was 19mths so I assume I’d stopped actual worrying by that point or I’d have bought another for dd.

I stopped worrying after about 6 months. The stats show that 90% of cases of SIDS occur before that age. After that I think I remember from some Lullaby Trust material that there is no higher risk for a 1 year old as for an a 10 year old or an adult.

I don’t particularly worry now (3). But I also check the kids are breathing before I go to bed.

I meant (2). Fat finger error

That being said I always check on my primary age kids before I go to sleep, which usually involves making sure they don't have their faces mashed into the wall or their pillows!!

I worried about this massively. Eased off at 6 months and then gradually phased away the more mobile DD got.

After DS turned 6 months, I felt able to let go of some of my worry. He’s 8 months now and although it does cross my mind every now and then, I rarely think of it.

About six months - she’s a year old now and I barely even think about it. We still stick to the clear cot rule etc though.

I think the breathing monitors can cause more anxiety than they solve tbh.

Once my Ds could roll over, the risks significantly drop.

However he is 11. I still check on him before I go to bed and if I see something in child dying that stresses or if he is ill check more often

I always check on my school age children before I go to bed.

Over a year tbh and yes I still check. Occasionally I still have a deep breath before I open the door to look. I still ponder if they have a lie in They are primary age. In my defence my brother died of cot death at a little over six months and I can still hear my screaming he is dead.

Oh MrsPear. That is heartbreak ing

About two because my neighbour when growing up lost her daughter at 18 months.

Six months i worried massivly before that though, and i check my two before bed too ds1 is nearly 12 and ds2 8 i worry about other horrible things happening to them too

I remember counting down the days to 6 months when the odds massively reduce. I still worry but not nearly as much now.

We had repisense monitors until about 12 months, and tomy under mattress breathing monitors (3 hooked up in each cot, cot beds are big) until we took the sides off the cotbeds at 2 years old.

Sold them all after and I hope they gave someone else reassurance.

I was so paranoid.

MrsPear my god, I'm so sorry. I cannot imagine.

Thanks for all the responses - it's not just me who is a bit of a worrier then

Nope not just you. I am expecting DC2 and dreading worrying about it all again. Not sure what you can do though to stop it. It’s natures way of keeping the babies safe isn’t it 😊

I still have a breathing monitor for my 2.5 year old and to be honest I am terrified that I have to take him off it soon as we will be potty training so he needs to be able to get out of bed. In my defence my DN passed away at 22 months from SUDC which is what they call SIDS after a year. We have no explanation as to why but statistically having a family member affected increases your risk. I am having counselling for anxiety. It is all so scary and unpredictable. My DS observed all safe sleeping rules, even with a 22 month old and DN still passed during a nap. Just awful and I can’t bear the thought.

I still poke my seven year when I go to bed, I don't think you ever stop!

Well ds is 9 so far... although definitely not an infant.

my daughter died at 10 weeks of SIDS. I have her 3 brothers who are 11, 7, and 5 and I still feel anxious every morning till I've heard all of them waking up.TBH I don't think it's something I will ever "get over"

I think the breathing monitors can cause more anxiety than they solve tbh
no they don't. they really don't. believe me, I'd have much rather had a couple of false alarms than waking up to find my daughter had been dead for a few hours

Oh Vandrew4 !
💐 and much love to you and your family. I can’t imagine what you have been through. And your experience is why I always follow the rule book in terms of SIDS guidelines (I am sure you did too). Somethings are just so out of our control, it’s so scary.

thanks ploppy* as you say, you can follow the guidelines as much as you can but it can still happen; what I don't understand is why you wouldn't use a monitor? so you may get woken up a few times unnecessarily, it's a small price