Sleeping Patterns

It seems like the Back to Sleep Campaign to prevent SIDS is primarily responsible for the increase in plagiocephaly. Back sleep theoretically prevents SIDS because Back Sleep does not allow an infant to get Deep Sleep (Stage 3 NREM sleep) which is when Babies primarily die of SIDS. Stage 3 NREM sleep is also when much of a babies plasticity and memory consolidation happens.

Infants who sleep in the prone position also have increased rates of:
- Social skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
- Motor skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
- gastroesophageal reflux (GER) (Corvaglia, 2007)
- Milestone delays (Davis, Moon, et al., 1998)
- Plagiocephaly, Torticollis, Strabismus, etc.
- Slow Wave Sleep Decrease, Overall Sleep Decrease, Increase in Apnea
- Also, Stomach sleep prevents subluxation of the hips

My question is: If a doctor was presented with a baby that had social skills delays, motor skills delays, and gastroesophageal reflux what would a doctor say if a child had these three things but not too bad. The doctor might tell the parent to be patient and that different kids develop differently. But, what if the case was more severe - what if the kids social skills were wors? The doctor might diagnose him with ADHD. But, what if the kids delays were really far behind - that is the kid had very large delays in social skills and motor skills? The doctor might diagnose him with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I think part (if not all) of the Autism Epidemic is caused by the SIDS Back to Sleep campaign.


8 year olds in the year 2000 (born in 1992) = 10,055 with Autism
8 year old in the year 2007 (born in 1999) = 24, 669 with Autism (146% Increase)

Infants that slept on their backs in 1992 = 13.0%
Infants that slept on their backs in 1999 = 65.7% (405% Increase)

“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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s special task force on SIDS.”
Scripps Howard News Service Interview

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