Resources on Early Learning

Tip Sheets

Losing a baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a tragedy that grieves parents, family members, friends, and others who care for the child. The good news is that all of those who provide care for an infant can help reduce the risk.

What is SIDS? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the cause given when an infant dies suddenly and no other cause can be found. SIDS is also known as crib death. Fortunately, SIDS is rare. In 2002, about one out of 2000 infants born in the United States died of SIDS before their first birthday. Approximately 20% of SIDS deaths occur in child care settings.

Are some infants at greater risk of SIDS? SIDS is more common in boys and in children of African American or American Indian heritage. SIDS is also more common during the colder months. Babies who are premature or of low birth weight, or who are exposed to passive smoke after birth, are at higher risk. Also, babies are at greater risk when their mothers are under the age of 20, smoke during pregnancy, or have little or no prenatal care.

What can we do to lower the risk?

• Obtain early, regular prenatal care. Good prenatal care reduces such risk factors as the baby being born early or having a low birth weight.
• Always put babies to sleep on their backs, not their stomachs. An exception should be made if a doctor recommends other positions because of a baby's medical condition. As well as a decrease in the risk of SIDS, recent research shows a decrease in the number of fevers, stuffy noses, and ear infections in babies who sleep on their backs. No increase in choking from back sleeping was found.
• Avoid exposing a baby to smoke. Do not smoke during pregnancy, and do not smoke around a baby.
• Make the baby's crib as safe as you can. Check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission before using an old crib. A baby should not share a bed with other children. The mattress should be firm, with no pillows, quilts, or soft toys. Keep blankets and other coverings away from the baby's mouth and nose. A baby should be warm, but not overheated.
• Consider offering a pacifier at naptime and bedtime during the first year. Recent research indicates a possible link between the bedtime use of a pacifier and a lower risk of SIDS.
• Do not depend on home monitors to reduce SIDS unless advised by a doctor. Recent research found no evidence that home monitoring decreases the risk of SIDS.

To learn more about SIDS, visit these Web sites.

• Section 407.350 Illinois Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers
  http://nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/IL/il_407.htm#pgfId-891524
• AAP SIDS Policy Recommendations
  http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;116/5/1245.pdf
• SIDS: "Back to Sleep" Campaign
  http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/sids.cfm
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001566.htm#Prevention
• Study Confirms Safety of Placing Infants to Sleep on their Backs: Infants Who Sleep on Back Have Fewer Fevers and Ear Infections
  http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/sleep_on_back.cfm
• Study Estimates 20% of SIDS Deaths Occur in Child Care Settings
  Editor's Note: this url is no longer active.http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/augsidz.htm
• Report Examines Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality
  http://www.sidsillinois.org/news-detail.php?id=27
• Changing Concepts of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Implications for Infant Sleeping Environment and Sleep Position
  http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;105/3/650
• A Child Care Provider's Guide to Safe Sleep
  http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/SIDSchildcaresafesleep.pdf
• A Parents' Guide to Safe Sleep
  http://www.healthychildcare.org/pdf/SIDSparentsafesleep.pdf
• Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Infant Mortality -- United States, 1995--2002
  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5422a1.htm
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  Washington, DC 20207
  Telephone: 800-638-2772
  Internet: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5020.html
• SIDS Alliance of Illinois, Inc.
  710 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 550
  Naperville, IL 60563
  Telephone: 630-305-7300
  Fax: 630-305-4773
  Toll-free: 1-800 -432-SIDS (Illinois Only)
  Internet: http://www.sidsillinois.org

The opinions, resources, and referrals provided in this Tip Sheet are intended for information purposes only and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We advise parents to seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with questions regarding their child’s health or medical conditions.

Spanish: El Síndrome de Muerte Súbita del Lactante

Home | About IEL | Resources | Calendar | Questions | Ask an Expert | Contact | Search
Acerca de IEL | Recursos | Calendario | Preguntas | Pregunte a un perito | Contáctenos | Búsqueda

NOTE: There may be publications on this page that are available as PDF (portable document format) files. To be able to read these files, download the free Adobe Reader.