May 3, 2018 | Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the diagnosis given for the sudden death of a baby under one year of age that remains unexplained after a complete investigation, including an autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the symptoms or illnesses the baby had prior to dying and any other pertinent medical and family history.  Some people call it “crib death” because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. Cribs themselves do not cause SIDS. But features of the sleep environment, such as a soft sleep surface, can increase the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. There are about 3,500 SIDS deaths in the United States each year, most of them occurring between the ages of 2 and 4 months. In 2015, there were about 1,600 deaths in the U.S. attributed to SIDS, with another 1,200 due to unknown causes and about 900 deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.

May 3, 2018 | In the United States, more Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases are reported in the fall and winter than in spring or summer. SIDS occurs more often in boys than in girls, with approximately a 60- to 40-percent male-to-female ratio. Although the overall SIDS rates have declined in all populations throughout the United States, disparities in SIDS rates and prevalence of risk factors remain in certain groups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, African-American and American-Indian infants are two to three times more likely to die from SIDS as other infants. Children who are born with a low birth weight are considered high risks for SIDS, as are those born to mothers who smoke or use drugs during or after the pregnancy. Some evidence suggests that babies who are overdressed, covered with multiple blankets or whose rooms are too warm are at greater risk of SIDS, especially if they’re put to sleep on their stomachs.

May 3, 2018 | Although the exact cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome remains unknown, certain steps can be taken to reduce the risk of this very serious problem. First, place your baby to sleep on his or her back, rather than on the stomach or side, every time you or anyone else put the baby to sleep for the first year of life. This isn’t necessary when your baby’s awake or able to roll over both ways without help. Don’t assume that others will place your baby to sleep in the correct position, insist on it. Advise sitters and child care providers not to use the stomach position to calm an upset baby. Keep the crib as bare as possible. Use a firm mattress and avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy padding, such as lambskin or a thick quilt. Don’t leave pillows, fluffy toys or stuffed animals in the crib. These can interfere with breathing if your baby’s face presses against them. To keep your baby warm, try a sleep sack or other sleep clothing that doesn’t require additional covers.

May 3, 2018 | There are a lot of things you may want to share with your child, but a bed should not be one of them. Sharing a sleep surface is especially dangerous for babies less than 12 weeks old. It’s okay to bring your baby into bed to feed, but when it’s time to go to sleep, place the baby alongside your bed in a separate, safe sleep space. In addition to the known hazards caused by pillows and comforters in the family bed, there is also increased risk for accidental suffocation. It is important to note that bed sharing has not been found to be protective against SIDS. In fact, current research indicates that bed sharing increases a baby’s risk to die by as much as 40 times. Research does, however, suggest that room sharing is protective against SIDS. Keep your baby next to where you sleep in their own separate space for at least the first six months. This provides greater safety and makes it easier to breastfeed and share a sense of closeness with your baby.

May 3, 2018 | By definition, a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome diagnosis requires a complete autopsy, a thorough death scene investigation and a clinical history. A death is diagnosed as SIDS only after all probable alternatives have been eliminated. In other words, SIDS is a diagnosis of “exclusion.” Often, the cause of an infant death can be determined only through a process of collecting information, conducting sometimes complex forensic tests and by talking with parents, other caregivers and physicians. Medical and legal experts rely on three methods to determine a SIDS death, a thorough investigation, an autopsy and a review of the infant’s and family’s medical records and histories. When a death is sudden and unexplained, investigators, including medical examiners and coroners, call on forensic experts who apply their expertise in medicine and the law to help determine a cause of death. And, unfortunately, SIDS is no exception.