Sudden infant death syndrome happens without any warning when the baby is thought to be sleeping. It can occur when the baby is in a crib. But babies can also die when they're sleeping somewhere else, such as in a stroller or their parent's arms.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
What is cot death?
April 2005. Available at http://www.fsid.org.uk/cot-death.html (accessed 10 January 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Babies who die of SIDS usually do so peacefully in their sleep and show no signs of pain or distress.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
What is cot death?
April 2005. Available at http://www.fsid.org.uk/cot-death.html (accessed 10 January 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹ There aren't any symptoms or warning signs.

Doctors don't know what causes SIDS. But research has found several things that seem to be linked to babies dying unexpectedly. These are known as risk factors. Babies seem to be more at risk if:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Beal S.
Sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome.
Medical Journal of Australia. 1988; 149: 562.

 

 

 

 

 

²

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics AAP Task Force on Infant Positioning and SIDS
Positioning and SIDS.
Pediatrics. 1992; 89: 1120–1126.

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Anderson HR, Cook DG.
Passive smoking and sudden infant death syndrome: review of the epidemiological evidence.
Thorax. 1997;52:1003-1009.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

Risk factors make SIDS more likely. But it's important to realize that having a risk factor doesn't mean SIDS will happen. We know only that babies who die of SIDS are more likely to have been exposed to these risks.

Avoiding these risk factors can help make SIDS less likely. To read more about things you can do, see What helps to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome?

Some companies sell devices that monitor a baby's breathing. Doctors sometimes suggest using these for babies who have a medical condition that affects their breathing. And they're sometimes given to parents who've lost a baby to SIDS and go on to have another child. But there's no evidence that home breathing monitors can reduce the risk of SIDS.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics.
Apnea, sudden infant death syndrome and home monitoring.
Pediatrics. 2003; 111: 914-917.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵ And doctors don't usually recommend them.

Parents who have lost a child to SIDS need a lot of emotional support. It's completely natural to feel grief, and many parents feel guilty or that they should have done something differently.

Counseling, advice and practical help are available. Your doctor may be able to put you in touch with a support group in your area. Many parents find it helps to talk with other people who've been in the same situation.

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