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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant under
one year of age, which remains unexplained despite a thorough investigation. It is the
leading cause of postnatal death in infants up to one year of age, with nearly 3,000 SIDS
deaths occurring annually. Most babies who die of SIDS are between two and four months of
age, with most deaths occurring by the end of six months. The rate of SIDS is two to three
times higher for African American and Native American infants. Boys comprise 60 percent of
the SIDS victims, compared to 40 percent for girls.
SIDS, also known as crib death, usually occurs after the baby has been put down to sleep.
There are no warning signs or symptoms associated with SIDS. The baby appears healthy before
death. Babies who die of SIDS cannot be resuscitated. Death occurs rapidly and silently.
Researchers believe SIDS probably has more than one cause.
Risk Factors
There are a number of risk factors associated with SIDS, but they are not well understood.
Risk factors may offer a clue to finding the cause, but they are not the cause, in and of
themselves. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are more likely to die from SIDS than those
who sleep on their backs. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies
be placed down for sleep on their backs until they are one year of age. In some instances,
a doctor may recommend that babies be placed on their stomachs if they have disorders such
as gastroesophageal reflux or certain upper airway disorders. Some “tummy time”
is recommended while babies are awake, for developmental reasons and to avoid a flat spot
on their head. Since 1992, when the AAP instituted their recommendation to place babies on
their backs while sleeping, death from SIDS has declined by over 40
percent.
Other risk factors include smoking during the pregnancy, exposure to second hand smoke, lack
of prenatal care, mothers under the age of 20, low birth weight and hard drug use. Risk can
also be reduced by keeping soft surfaces, such as pillows, fluffy blankets, stuffed animals,
sheepskins and comforters, away from the baby’s bed or sleeping area. These materials
trap air that the baby has exhaled. The baby then breathes the air back in — a process
known as rebreathing. This causes a lack of oxygen to the baby and excessive carbon dioxide
levels. Keeping a baby’s sleeping area too warm is also associated with an increased
risk of SIDS. Babies have greater difficulty regulating their body temperatures and excessive
clothing, too many blankets or a sleeping area that is too warm can cause the baby to
overheat.
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