Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Having a newborn can be a very exciting (albeit exhausting) time in your life, but it can also be scary to think about the potential dangers for your newborn. Especially if you're a first time mom, you may have a lot of questions about the "right" thing to do, like putting your baby to bed.

While it's not often talked about, SIDS is a real risk, and it's good for new parents to know how best to avoid it. There are several things you can do to reduce your child's risk of SIDS.

We hope that you are on this page only for learning and not for loss. If you are a parent who has recently lost a child due to SIDS, we mourn with you and hope that you will be of great support during this difficult time.

There may not be an exact explanation for what happened, but you can find peace through therapy, support groups, or other ways to deal with the situation. See the bottom of this page for information about support organizations and suggestions for coping with your loss.

What is SIDS?

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a child under one year of age. It is also called "death in the cradle". Sick babies are usually healthy, and SIDS is almost always associated with sleep.

SIDS belongs to a broader category called Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome, which also includes accidental suffocation and other unexplained deaths. Death can be difficult to attribute to one of these three options, which is why it is often referred to simply as SIDS.

After the unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant, an investigation is often initiated to determine the cause of death, if possible. An autopsy is often done to check for physical factors. The environment the infant was in at the time will also be looked at to see if something could have been the cause.

If the study is inconclusive, it is a real SIDS.

The problem with SIDS is that the specific cause is often unknown.

What causes SIDS?

Part of the problem with SIDS is that the specific cause is often unknown. It is most often associated with breathing problems during sleep, which may be due to physical or environmental factors.

Recent studies have hypothesized that a defect in a particular part of the brain responsible for awakening from sleep and/or autonomous breathing may play a role in some deaths from SIDS. Premature births and low birth weight babies are most at risk for this brain anomaly because their brain development may have been incomplete at birth.

Both physical (body) and environmental factors contribute to an increased risk of SIDS in infants. With regard to physical factors, there is a brain defect mentioned above, which may be associated with prematurity or low birth weight, or simply with a natural defect. This defect is associated with the autonomic nervous system (automatic and unconscious behavior) that controls the child, who wakes up if he stops breathing or does not get enough oxygen. In addition, a recent cold or respiratory infection may have affected the infant's ability to breathe normally.

Environmental factors include a pet or family member turning the baby over, anything that could hit the baby's head, neck, or entire body, and extra pillows and blankets that could cause suffocation.

How common is SIDS?

SIDS is the most common cause of death in infants under 1 year of age, so it is imperative that parents are aware of the risks associated with this syndrome.

Are there groups/populations at greater risk?

Certain populations are not necessarily at greater risk, but the incidence of SIDS is higher among non-whites (African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, etc.) for reasons that are not yet understood.

Male babies tend to have a higher rate of SIDS than girls.

In addition, babies born to mothers younger than 20 are also more likely to have SIDS (this may be due to a lack of education or support for infant care).

What are the risk factors for SIDS?

Because SIDS, as its name suggests, occurs without warning, risk factor analysis is more helpful than symptoms or warning signs.

Risk factors in infants include:

Sleeping on the stomach or side (may make breathing more difficult)
A recent respiratory infection (may still be affecting his or her breathing ability)
Being born prematurely or with a low birth weight – including multiples births (brain autonomic functions may be less developed)
Having a smoker in the house/secondhand smoke (may interfere with the baby’s lungs)
Co-sleeping with a parent or sibling (may be trapped in a tight space, rolled on top of, and/or suffocate in excess pillows and blankets)
Having a crowded crib (blankets, pillow, and stuffed animals can block a baby’s nose or mouth)
Overheating (may affect an infant’s breathing)
Being in the range of 2 to 4 months old (although SIDS may occur up to 12 months of age, it is most common from 2 – 4 months)
Having a sibling or cousin who was affected by SIDS (may be partially related to a genetic brain defect)

Maternal risk factors include:

Smoking
Using or abusing drugs or alcohol
Those under age 20
Those who do not receive enough prenatal care

Are there ways to reduce my child's risk of SIDS?

Yes, I have! Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of SIDS, but there are many ways to improve safety.

Breastfeeding for 6 months or more reduces the risk of SIDS.

The biggest area you can help with is how your baby sleeps: their sleeping position and the environment they sleep in.

Always, always, always put your baby to sleep on their back! And, if someone else (nanny, family member) is laying your baby down, be sure to insist that they always put your baby on their back, not on their stomach or side.
Let your child sleep in the same room as you. This allows you to monitor a sleeping baby (monitoring tools are not enough!).
Do not let your child sleep with you, your children or your pets. They have higher rates of SIDS due to your child not being ready for an adult bed:
Softer mattresses, blankets and pillows can suffocate the baby;
A child, adult or pet may roll over and suffocate the child;
The child may get caught in the headboard or between the mattress and a hard surface, which may result in injury or suffocation.
Avoid overcrowding in the crib/bedroom. Unnecessary blankets, pillows, or soft toys can cause suffocation.
Avoid smoking. Even if you don't smoke in the house, the chemicals stick to your hair, skin, and clothes and can still affect your baby.
Breastfeed! Breastfeeding for 6 months or more reduces the risk of SIDS.
Keep the baby warm, but do not overheat. If your child can sleep in pajamas without an extra blanket, that's better and reduces bulk.
Treat any colds or possible respiratory infections immediately, as these may affect your child's breathing.

At the end of this article, we've included our favorite baby gadgets to help you keep an eye on your baby while they sleep.

Use a baby monitor

Video and audio baby monitors have been making life easier for parents for decades and can certainly be a useful tool. Health professionals do not recommend sleeping a newborn or infant in a separate room at night, a baby monitor can be extremely helpful during sleep or when a nanny is staying with your child.

Moms and dads are busy, and it's crazy to think that we could sit next to the crib while the baby sleeps. Not! You can use this time to complete household tasks that require both hands and more attention. This is the ideal situation for using the baby monitor.

Combine all of the above (put the baby to sleep on their back, keep the area tidy, make sure the baby doesn't get too hot, etc.) with a video and/or audio baby monitor (and possibly a sleep sock) . monitor!) during sleep, and you make your child safer!