Bucs' Bryant joins drive to prevent infant deaths from SIDS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant stood somberly at an Orlando podium Friday and cleared his throat.

[Tom]

Infants who are put to sleep on their backs compared to infants who are put to sleep on their stomachs are impacted in the following ways:
- Social skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
- Motor skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
- Increased rates of gastroesophageal reflux (GER)(Corvaglia, 2007)
- Below norm AIMS scores (Majnemer, Barr, 2005)
- Milestone delays (Davis, Moon, et al., 1998)

“There are indications of a rapidly growing population of infants who show developmental abnormalities as a result of prolonged exposure to the supine position.” Dr. Ralph Pelligra regarding the impact of the Back to Sleep Campaign http://cgi.thescientificworld.co.uk/cgi-bin/p...

“Since the implementation of the “Back to Sleep” campaign, therapists are seeing increasing numbers of kindergarten-aged children who are unable to hold a pencil.” Susan Syron, Pediatric Physical Therapist

“In its fundamental purpose it has been largely successful. The incidence of SIDS has been reduced dramatically. However, as many orthotists can attest, this important gain has not been without its lesser comorbidities. The one we tend to think of has been the rapid increase in the incidence of positional plagiocephaly and positional brachycephaly. However, there have been whispers and rumors of other effects.” Phil Stevens, MEd, CPO regarding side effects of the Back to Sleep Campaign. http://www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/200...

“A lot of us are concerned that the rate (of SIDS) isn’t decreasing significantly, but that a lot of it is just code shifting,’ said John Kattwinkel, chairman of the CDC SIDS Task Force.” http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm...

“What might be the neurodevelopmental consequences of chronically reducing deep sleep in the first critical 12 months of life?” Dr. Raphael Pelayo (Journal of Pediatrics, 2006)

[think before you speak]

Wow, Tom. If what you say is correct, this could have some serious consequences. My mom...nearly 40 years ago, was told to put me to sleep on my back. I wouldn't (and still won't) sleep that way, so she put me on my belly. I think a lot more research needs to be done on SIDS before we just assume it is the positing in which a child sleeps that causes it.

[Cathi]

I also a safe sleep advocate. My grandson died of SIDS at his babysitters taking a nap on a pillow top queensize mattress and in the prone position. I made sure she had a pack-n-play and knew the risks of SIDS. She chose to ignore them. My grandson didn't have a choice for a safe sleeping environment and I will always wonder if he was in a safe sleep environment, would he be alive today. Did he re-breathe in carbon dioxide? I hand out safe sleep pamphlets from First Candle but I do love the onsies.

[Marta]

Although I commend Matt Bryant for joining the fight against SIDS, while so many other "celebrities" stay mum, it is important to note that 'unsafe" sleep practices PREVENT SUFFOCATION. SIDS has been linked to metabolic disorders such as MCADD, and the underdeveloped brain stem and unless the media will begin to speak about that 'good child care" and sleep practices will have nothing to do with the decline of SIDS. I challenge the claim that SIDS has declined at all; rather it has been called other things at autopsy such as "undetermined" and "unknown." We need to get real about what causes babies to die before their first year and SIDS is a phrase not a disease. It is many reasons for a death.