Sudden Infant Death Awareness Month

The death of a child is one that most parents can’t imagine. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is like a monster hiding in the closet; we don’t like to believe it’s there, but we’re afraid that it may be. The worst part of SIDS is the unknown. Researchers are beginning to find some clues that point to risks, but they still don’t know what really causes it. That means any child is at risk.

October is SIDS Awareness Month. SIDS, also called crib death because it happens most often while the baby is sleeping, usually strikes children before two and four months old. Risk factors that could increase the chance of SIDS include babies who are (MayoClinic.com):

Male. Boy babies are more likely to die of SIDS.

Premature or of low birth weight. Your baby is more susceptible to SIDS if he or she was premature or had a low birth weight.

Black, American Indian or Native Alaskan. For reasons that aren’t well understood, there appears to be an association between race and the risk of SIDS.

Placed to sleep on their stomachs. Cultural differences in child care practices — such as whether babies are placed to sleep on their backs — may be a factor. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than are babies who sleep on their backs. At highest risk are babies who are used to sleeping on their backs and are suddenly switched to stomach sleeping. At one time, doctors recommended stomach sleeping because babies rest more soundly in that position. But it’s now known that stomach sleeping greatly increases a baby’s risk. Side sleeping — because infants placed on their sides are likely to roll to their stomachs — and soft bedding have also been found to contribute to risk.

Born to mothers who smoke or use drugs. Smoking cigarettes during or after your pregnancy puts your baby at considerably higher risk of SIDS. Using drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methadone while you’re pregnant also increases the risk.

Exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of SIDS.

Born during the fall or winter months. More SIDS cases occur when the weather is cooler.

Overheated. 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.

Recently recovered from an upper respiratory infection. Evidence of infection within four weeks of death is a common finding in SIDS autopsies.

Siblings of a baby who died of SIDS. The extent of the risk increase is unknown, but probably small. Genetic disorders, such as prolonged QT syndrome, may be involved.

SIDS is the third leading cause of death in babies under one year of age in the United States. Statistics showed that in the late 80s and early 90s, each year, there were between 5000 and 6000 SIDS deaths in the United States (What is SIDS?). Educational campaigns advising caregivers to put their babies on their back to sleep instead of their stomach seems to have made an impact on the death rate. The latest statistics, from 2004, reported 2295 SIDS deaths.

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