Final answer:
To prevent SIDS, parents shouldn't put suffocation hazards like pillows or blankets in an infant's crib, should place babies on their backs to sleep, avoid overheating with caps, and ensure no smoking occurs in the home. Sleep apnea monitors can also be a useful tool.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
To prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), parents shouldn't place items in the crib that pose suffocation risks, such as blankets, pillows, or padded crib bumpers. Infants should be laid on their backs to sleep, and caps shouldn't be used since they can cause overheating. Additionally, it's important that no one smokes in the home to protect the infant from secondhand smoke exposure. Sleep apnea monitors using electromagnetic induction can also alert parents if an infant stops breathing. Ongoing research into SIDS explores various risk factors such as infant brain structure abnormalities, prematurity, and exposure to tobacco smoke.