SIDS Risk Factors

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  It is not considered a disease or illness but occurs when an infant dies suddenly and there is not an exact cause.  SIDS is the leading cause of death in the United States for infants between the ages of 1month and 1 year.  Approximately 2,300 infants die per year most commonly affecting infants between the ages of 2-4 months and occurs most frequently during the colder months.

What are the risk factors?
*Tummy Sleeping
    -The risk of SIDS is 12.9 times higher if an infant sleeps on his belly instead of his back.
*Soft items in the sleeping area
    -Always use a swaddle instead of blankets
*Having a parent or caregiver that smokes
*Being born prematurely
    -The lower the birth weight the higher the risk
*Becoming overheated while sleeping
*Sleeping on soft surfaces
*Being born to a mother who abused drugs throughout the pregnancy
*Being born to a mother under the age of 20
*Being a boy
    -Boys are at a slightly higher risk by a ratio of 1.5 to 1

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, if you take care of yourself during your pregnancy, always place your infant on his back to sleep with nothing in his bed, and avoid your babies exposure to cigarette smoke, you will greatly reduce the risk.  When looking for childcare, always remember to ask if the caregivers are trained in and practice safe sleep.  But always remember BACK IS BEST!