Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, known by
the acronym SIDS, is a tragedy, and a mystery. Despite years of research, its
exact causes remain unknown.
It is defined as the sudden death of an
infant, younger than a year old, that can’t be explained after a thorough
medical investigation.
In California, SIDS is the
second-leading cause of death for children between 28 days and a year old. However,
parents can take steps to reduce the risks.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has these
recommendations:
• Pregnant women should receive
regular prenatal care. They also should avoid tobacco smoke, alcohol, and
illicit drugs both during pregnancy and after the birth.
• Don’t let anyone smoke in an infant’s
presence.
• When it’s time to sleep, lay your
baby on a firm surface on his back, not his stomach.
• Share a room, but not a bed, with
your infant, and keep all soft objects out of the baby’s sleeping area.
• Don’t let your baby get overheated
while sleeping.
Other effective steps include
breastfeeding, if possible; getting all recommended immunizations for your baby,
and having regular “well baby” check-ups.
We don’t yet have a way to prevent
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but these steps have greatly decreased the number
of deaths. If you have questions, ask your doctor for advice.
