Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of an autopsy, an examination of the death scene, and a review of the infant's and family's medical history. SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year of age, with most deaths occurring when a baby is between two and four months of age.
The cause of SIDS is unknown; research is on going to learn more about what causes SIDS. What we do know is ways we can reduce the risk of SIDS.
There are things that you can do to lower your baby's risk of SIDS:
- Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, even for naps.
- Place your baby on a firm mattress. Safety-approved cribs are among the types of cribs that have firm mattresses. *
- Remove soft, fluffy and loose bedding and stuffed toys from your baby's sleep area.
- Make sure your baby's face and head stay uncovered during sleep.
- Do not allow smoking around your baby.
- Do not let your baby get too warm during sleep.
- Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows to place your baby on his or her back to sleep.
In New York State, for more information call the New York State Center for Sudden Infant Death, at 1-800-336-7437.