Your baby: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of a baby younger than 12 months old. It usually happens to an apparently healthy baby during sleep.

The risk is rare - only one in 1,000 babies dies of SIDS each year in this country. Most SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 1 and 4 months. Doctors and scientists do not know what causes SIDS, but have identified some ways that seem to reduce the risk.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following ways to help prevents SIDS.

Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep. Avoid putting your baby to sleep on his or her side or tummy.
Use a firm, snug-fitting mattress in the crib.
Do not place bumper pads, pillows, loose bedding or stuffed animals in the crib.
Never place your baby to sleep on a pillow, sheepskin, fluffy bedding, waterbed or other soft surfaces. Never place your baby to sleep on a couch (sofa) or chair.
Do not let your baby get overheated. Make sure the bedroom temperature is comfortable and your baby is dressed lightly.
Do not share a bed with your baby. You may move the crib into your bedroom for comfort or breastfeeding. Do not let him or her sleep in your bed or with a sibling.
After breastfeeding during the night, return your baby to his or her crib.
Consider offering your baby a pacifier at naptime and bedtime. This may help prevent SIDS, although experts do not know why. If your baby doesn't want a pacifier, do not force it. If you are breastfeeding, wait to offer the pacifier until breastfeeding is well-established (usually after about 1 month).
Do not use products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS, including home monitors. There is no evidence such products reduce the incidence of SIDS. If you use these products, they are OK for listening to your baby when you are in a different room, but they do not prevent SIDS accidents.

If your baby often spits up after eating or has a breathing, heart or lung problem, your health care provider may recommend a different sleeping position. Talk with your health care provider about what's best for your baby.

Change your baby's head position

When your baby sleeps on his or her back, you may notice that his or her head becomes a bit flatter in back. If your baby tends to look to one side more than the other, his or her head may flatten more on that side, too.

Changing your baby's position regularly will promote full head movement. For example, position your baby's head so he or she looks to the left one night, to the right the next night.

Warning about smoking

Do not smoke and do not allow smoking in your home. This is important during pregnancy and once your baby comes home.

Smoking during pregnancy causes:

your baby to get less oxygen and food because nicotine from cigarettes tightens up your blood vessels
your baby to get less oxygen when carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas from cigarettes, gets into your bloodstream
harmful gases and poisons from cigarettes to get into your baby's bloodstream.

Smoking during breastfeeding causes:

your baby to get nicotine from your breast milk. (Smoking does not prevent you from breastfeeding. Talk to your lactation consultant or health care provider.)

Smoking after the baby is born:

causes your baby's tiny airways to get even smaller when he or she breathes in secondhand smoke
puts your baby at risk for SIDS, ear infections, colds, and chest illnesses (such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma), among others.

Other tips

Give your baby lots of opportunities for tummy time when he or she is awake.
Keep all well-baby appointments with your health care provider.
Be sure all caregivers and babysitters are aware of the SIDS prevention measures.

Whom to call for more information

For more information, call the Minnesota Sudden Infant Death Center at 1-800-732-3812. For specific information about your baby, talk with your health care provider.