Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome (also known as SIDS or crib death) is the 3rd leading cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year of age, accounting for approximately 1 in 1400 babies born.  Each year in the U.S., 5,000 babies die as the result of SIDS.  As terrifying as the thought of SIDS is for most parents, it is important to know that there are precautions that you can take to help reduce the chances of your child becoming a victim.

What is SIDS?

SIDS is defined as the unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant under the age of 1 year, where the death remains unexplained after a  thorough investigation that includes autopsy, investigation of the scene and medical history.  This term is used to describe the deceased infant when no other causes can be found, and is not used to describe an infant that is not deceased. 

Who is at risk?

The risk for SIDS is highest between the ages of 2-4 months of age, with 90% of SIDS deaths occurring by the age of 6 months.  At the age of 6 months the infant is often able to roll over by herself.  This has been thought to play a part of in the reduction of SIDS deaths for infants 6 months and over. It is also now known that the incidence of SIDS increases in the winter months, peaking in January, and that the risk of SIDS is higher among males than females.  It is also higher among African Americans and Native Americans as compared with other racial groups. 

Other factors are also thought to play a part in SIDS deaths, although the extent and nature of the role they play is not yet understood.  These factors include low socioeconomic status, late prenatal care, short intervals between pregnancies, maternal smoking or substance abuse, pre-maturity of infant or multiple births, young maternal age at time of delivery and having a sibling who died of SIDS.

What precautions can parent's take to reduce the risk of SIDS?

1) Put your infant to sleep on her back until at least 4 months of age. The recent "Back To Sleep" campaign has tried to educate parents on the importance of placing their children to sleep on their backs instead on their stomachs. Placing a child to sleep on his back HAS reduced the incidence of SIDS in recent years. Placing a child to sleep on his side is better than the stomach, although it does not offer as much protection against SIDS as placing the child on his back.  If you do choose to lay your child on his side, make sure his lower arm is forward to prevent him from rolling over. It is important to know that there is no evidence that putting a child to sleep on his back increases the risk of chocking.  The only exception to sleeping on the back or side would be if your child's pediatrician advises it for medical reasons.

2) Do not use soft bedding, pillows or beanbags (which can suffocate baby). Use a firm mattress with no stuffed animals or other items in the crib that could cause suffocation.

3) Do not smoke in the home or around baby

4) Do not overheat baby (baby should be dressed no more warmly than what an adult would find comfortable).

5) Breastfeed baby if possible  (breastfeeding baby may indirectly reduce the incidence of SIDS by decreasing the number of upper respiratory infections that may play a role in SIDS).

What causes SIDS?

The exact cause or causes of SIDS remains unknown.  There are no symptoms associated with SIDS and the infants do not appear to struggle or suffer. Most experts believe SIDS is the result of a combination of many factors and the research is ongoing.  Some believe problems with sleep arousal or inability to sense build-up of carbon monoxide in the blood may play a role.  There are currently many companies who claim to be able to reduce the risk of SIDS by using certain devices they have manufactured.  Most of these devices have yet to be proven effective.  Check with your doctor before purchasing any of these.

Final thoughts:

Parents who lose a child to SIDS often suffer not only grief and loss but a tremendous amount of guilt.  We do not know all of the factors that interact to cause a child to die of SIDS.  There are many factors which are out of our control. It is not the parents fault and there is no one to blame.

However, education is our best defense against SIDS!

Placing baby to sleep on her back, keeping the home smoke-free and not overheating baby or placing anything in the crib (such as soft bedding) that may pose a risk of suffocation are the best defenses available to reduce the risks of SIDS. Although SIDS is not extremely common (less than 1 in 1,000 are affected) it is always fatal.  We are hopeful that further research will soon be able to provide us with more answers about this tragic cause of infant death.