New research found fans were associated with a 94% reduction in SIDS risks for infants who slept in rooms that exceeded 70 degrees (21 degrees C) and an 84% reduction for babies who slept in rooms with closed windows. The research included a survey of 185 mothers of infants with a confirmed diagnosis of SIDS and mothers of more than 300 randomly selected infants.

The study, published in October's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found that using a fan in the room can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome because it decreases the chance of “rebreathing” exhaled air.

Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death of babies 1 month to 1 year old. The cause of SIDS is unknown, but the risk is higher when children sleep on their stomach, in a soft bed or without a pacifier. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents avoid soft bedding and allow babies to use a pacifier.

The lead author of the study, De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist with Kaiser Permanente's research division, explained that fans improve air circulation, preventing infants from rebreathing exhaled carbon dioxide. Dr. Li said the use of fans should not replace other sleeping strategies for lowering SIDS, like removing soft bedding and putting babies on their back.

“If parents want to take an extra measure, they should consider using a fan,” he said.

SIDS kills about 2,500 infants annually and is the leading cause of death in that age group. However, since 1992 the rate of SIDS deaths has dropped by more than half, to about one death per 2,000 live births from 2.4 per 1,000. The decline in SIDS deaths from 1992 to 2003 was attributed to the recommendation that infants be placed on their backs to sleep rather than their stomachs.

Pacifiers also seem to protect babies, the researchers said, perhaps because the handles prevent a child’s face from becoming pressed against the mattress. In 2005, a research on the same group of women used in the fan study found that use of a pacifier cut the risk of SIDS by 90%. Sleeping in a room with an open window was also found to lower the risk by more than 70%.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and Kaiser Permanente.

Another study published Monday in Pediatrics shows that 26% of mothers of 3-month-olds don’t follow the recommendation that says that putting babies to sleep on their back is the most important thing parents and caregivers can do to prevent the sudden infant death syndrome.

SIDS deaths are most likely to occur when babies are between the ages of 2 months and 4 months and incidence increases during cold weather. Studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep compared to those sleeping on their backs or sides. Researchers have hypothesized that stomach sleeping can increase an infant's risk of “rebreathing” his or her own exhaled air, particularly if the infant is sleeping on a soft mattress or with bedding, stuffed toys, or a pillow near the face. The American Academy of Pediatrics task force recommendations include: babies should be put on their back to sleep; babies should not share the bed with parents; they should not be exposed to secondhand smoke; soft objects, stuffed toys, pillows, and quilts should be removed from the bed when the baby is sleeping.