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What is sudden infant death syndrome? — Sudden infant death syndrome ("SIDS") is when a baby younger than 1 year old dies suddenly for no known reason. SIDS is sometimes called "crib death."
SIDS happens when a baby is sleeping, usually between midnight and 6 AM. Almost all babies who die from SIDS are younger than 6 months old.
What causes SIDS? — SIDS is more likely to happen when a baby:
●Sleeps on their belly
●Sleeps on a soft surface, such as a bed or sofa
●Sleeps with pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in the bed
●Sleeps in a bed or on a sofa with an adult or another child
●Is too warm or wears too many clothes when sleeping
●Is born to a mother who smokes
●Is born too early or weighs less than normal at birth
If you had a baby that died from SIDS, your other babies have a slightly higher than normal chance of dying from SIDS. But that does not mean it will definitely happen. Talk with your doctor or nurse about what you can do to lower the chance that SIDS will happen again.
Can SIDS be prevented? — There is no test that can tell if SIDS is going to happen. But there are things that parents or caregivers can do to lower the chance that it will happen. To lower the chance of SIDS, do the following:
●Always put your baby on their back to sleep. Do not let your baby sleep on their belly or side.
●Always put your baby to sleep in a crib, cradle, or bassinet. Do not have your baby sleep in your bed with you. If you want your baby to sleep near you, put the crib or bassinet near your bed.
●Have your baby sleep on a firm surface. It should be flat and not angled. A baby should never sleep on a sofa, cushion, waterbed, or other soft surface. You should also not put your baby to sleep on an air mattress, even if it is blown up all the way. Do not put your baby to sleep in a car seat except in the car.
●Keep all pillows, stuffed animals, blankets, and other soft objects out of the crib or bassinet. Do not use bumper pads on the crib.
●Do not cover your baby's head when they are sleeping.
●Dress your baby in layers to keep them warm without overheating. You can also dress them in a "wearable blanket" or sleep sack. Do not use weighted blankets or swaddles.
●Try to keep the room where the baby sleeps from getting too warm.
●Stop smoking if you smoke, and do not let anyone smoke in your house or car.
●Breastfeed your baby if possible.
●Offer your baby a pacifier at nap time and bed time. It is best to wait to introduce a pacifier until after your baby has gotten used to breastfeeding.
Doctors do not recommend using devices or machines that check a baby's breathing or heart rate during sleep. Studies have shown that these do not prevent SIDS.
How do doctors know if a death is from SIDS? — After a baby dies, doctors and other experts try to figure out the cause in a few different ways. They talk with the parents or caregivers and look around the room where the baby died. They also might do an autopsy. An autopsy is an exam that is done after death.
If the doctors find no other cause of death, they say that the baby died from SIDS.
Where can I find support? — If your family has been affected by SIDS, your doctor or nurse can tell you where to find help and support. It's very important to get help, because a baby's death can be overwhelming. You might be in shock or feel anger, guilt, sadness, or fear. There is no right way to feel.
Some people find it helpful to go to a support group for parents or caregivers whose babies died from SIDS. There are support groups all over the world (table 1). Other people find it helpful to talk one-on-one with a mental health professional.
It's normal to feel grief after something like SIDS happens. But if you think you might be depressed, tell your doctor or nurse. Depression is more than sadness or grief. There are treatments that can help with depression.
Patient education: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (Beyond the Basics)
