| Facts About SIDS |
 SIDS is a medical entity and is the major cause of death in infants after the first month of life SIDS claims the lives of over 7,000 babies in the USA each year
SIDS victims appear to be healthy prior to death
SIDS cannot be predicted or prevented, even by a physician
SIDS occurs in families of ALL social and economic levels
SIDS is also known as crib death because it happens most often during sleep
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What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a medical term that describes the sudden death of an infant which remains unexplained after all known and possible causes have been carefully ruled out through autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of the medical history. |
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Risk Factors
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Tummy (prone) or side sleeping
Infants who are put to sleep on their tummy or side are more likely to die from SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.
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Soft sleep surfaces
Sleeping on a waterbed, couch, sofa, or pillows, or sleeping with stuffed toys has been associated with an increased risk for SIDS.
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Loose bedding
Sleeping with pillows or loose bedding such as comforters, quilts, and blankets increases an infants risk for SIDS.
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Overheating
Infants who overheat because they are overdressed, have too many blankets on, or are in a room that is too hot are at a higher risk of SIDS.
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Smoking
Infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk of SIDS. Also, infants exposed to smoke at home or at daycare are more likely to die from SIDS.
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Bed sharing
The safest place for an infant to sleep is in their own crib or other separate safe sleep surface next to the parent or caregiver’s bed.
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Preterm and low birth weight infants
Infants born premature or low birth weight are more likely to die from SIDS. |
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What SIDS Is Not
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SIDS is not caused by suffocation, vomiting or choking.
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SIDS is not contagious.
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SIDS is not hereditary.
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SIDS is not caused by baby shots, vitamin deficiency, or hormone imbalance.
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SIDS is not caused by allergies or infection.
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SIDS is not caused by a sleeping parent laying over on the baby. |
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Starring: Dave Zalba
© 2008 produced by the Mentor Firefighters' Historical Association Media division | |
| Reducing The Risk |
Always place babies on their backs to sleep – Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.
Place your baby on a firm sleep surface - Never place a baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin, or other soft surface.
Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area – Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or bumpers in your baby’s sleep area.
Avoid letting your baby overheat during sleep – Dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
Think about using a pacifier when placing your baby down to sleep, but don’t force the baby to take it. (If you’re breastfeeding, wait until your child is 1 month old, or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.) | |
For more SIDS facts and information on reducing the risk click on the SIDS ribbon above. |
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