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JULY 31, 2000

The cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are down, but many babies now have flat heads, thanks to a nationwide program which encouraged mothers to place their children to sleep on their backs, not their stomachs.

The "Back to Sleep" program began in 1994. Nationwide figures are not yet available but doctors report rising numbers of flat head babies.

To avoid the problem, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends periodically repositioning infants' heads while they sleep and allowing "tummy time" when they are awake.

In 1997, American Indian children had the highest SIDS mortality rate of any ethnic group in the US. The exact reasons why are not clear.

Researchers are currently studying the phenomenon, primarily focusing their on Plains populations.

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Trade-off: SIDS cases way down, but many babies have flat heads (AP 7/31)

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