Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Causes, Risk Factors & Prevention

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a child under the age of one. It is the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year of age.

The exact cause of SIDS is not known, but there are several risk factors that have been identified, such as:

* Sleeping on the stomach

* Sleeping in a soft or loose bedding

* Overheating

* Exposure to secondhand smoke

* Low birth weight

* Premature birth

* Multiple births

* Being a male infant

SIDS is not preventable, but there are things that parents and caregivers can do to reduce the risk, such as:

* Always placing infants on their backs to sleep

* Using a firm mattress and avoiding loose bedding

* Keeping the infant's room at a comfortable temperature

* Avoiding smoking around infants

* Making sure infants receive regular checkups

If you have any concerns about SIDS, talk to your child's doctor.