SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

These other possible causes are investigated through autopsy, death scene investigation, or review of the medical history.
Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep, and infants who die of SIDS show no signs of suffering. Most deaths occur between 2 and 4 months of age, and incidence increases during cold weather. There is a common belief that marital breakup always follows the death of a baby, but this hasn’t been supported by experience or research. Like any sudden death, a SIDS death leaves a family with a sense of shock and loss, as well as an urgent need to understand what has happened. Some of the usual emotions felt by parents include guilt, anger, fear, blame and despair.

Incidence

SIDS is responsible for more deaths than any other cause in childhood for babies between one month and one year of age. About 150,000 victims are reported in the United States in this generation alone - 7,000 babies each year fall victim to this syndrome. That’s one baby every hour of every day. A little known fact is that more children die of SIDS in one year than of cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy combined during their first 14 years.

No one can predict where SIDS will strike, because  it affects families of all races, ethnic and socioeconomic origins without warning. In fact, most SIDS victims appear healthy prior to death. African-American infants are twice as likely and Native American infants about three times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian infants. Also, more boys than girls fall victim to SIDS.

SIDS Death By Race and Origin of Mother, 2002

Race

Number

Ratio

All

2,295

57.1

Native American

52

123.3

African-American

642

110.3

Caucasian

1,269

55.2

Hispanic

260

29.7

Asian/Pacific Islander

51

24.3

Other potential risk factors include: smoking, drinking, or drug use during pregnancy; poor prenatal care; premature birth or low birth-weight; mothers younger than 20; smoke exposure following birth; overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding; stomach sleeping; and many others.

See Also: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Suffocation Risk, and Baby's Sleep Positions

Maternal risk factors include:

• age less than 20 at first pregnancy
• a short interval between pregnancies
• smoking during and after pregnancy
• placental abnormalities
• anemia
• alcohol and substance abuse
• history of sexually transmitted disease