A finding from Kaiser Permanente Northern California indicates that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be reduced by using a fan:
“…The study’s findings, based on data collected from nearly 500 mother-and-child pairs in California between 1997 and 2000, indicate that the use of a fan in an infant’s room may reduce the likelihood of sudden death by 72%. But the data suggest that the protective effect applies mostly to babies in poor sleeping environments — those who are put to bed in overheated rooms or on their stomach.”
link: Fans Reduce Infants’ Sudden Death Risk
The study was done with a relatively small number of infants. To validate the findings, follow-up studies will have to be done. However, the suggestion of a fan is non invasive and entails no drastic changes. If viewed from the perspective of negative after-effects, there are practically none. The fan is a minimal financial expenditure and inconsequential compared to the safety of the infant.
Catherine Forsythe