Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is one of the most feared and heartbreaking risks new parents face. It refers to the sudden, unexplained death of an otherwise healthy baby under the age of one, usually occurring during sleep. While researchers have studied SIDS for decades, its exact cause remains unknown, making awareness and prevention strategies especially important.

What Happens in SIDS?

SIDS is diagnosed when no clear cause of death can be found after a thorough investigation, including a medical history review, autopsy, and examination of the sleep environment. Because it often happens without warning, SIDS is sometimes called “crib death.” It typically occurs in infants between 1 and 4 months old, with cases being very rare after 12 months.

What Increases the Risk?

While there is no single cause, researchers believe SIDS may result from a combination of factors, including:

• Sleep environment – Babies placed on their stomachs or sides to sleep, or those sleeping on soft surfaces with loose bedding, are at higher risk.

• Brain development – Some infants may have subtle brain abnormalities that affect breathing, arousal, or heart function during sleep.

• Maternal and household factors – Smoking during pregnancy, secondhand smoke exposure, or overheating the baby’s sleep space may raise the risk.

• Prematurity or low birth weight – Babies born early or small may be more vulnerable.

Prevention Strategies Parents Can Use

The good news is that safe sleep practices have significantly reduced SIDS rates in the last few decades. The “Back to Sleep” campaign, launched in the 1990s, encouraged parents to place babies on their backs to sleep, leading to a sharp decline in cases. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep, even for naps.

• Use a firm, flat sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a fitted sheet.

• Keep the crib free of pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and bumpers.

• Room-share without bed-sharing for at least the first 6 months.

• Maintain a comfortable room temperature to avoid overheating.

• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime if the baby accepts it.

• Breastfeeding, when possible, has been shown to reduce risk.

• Ensure a smoke-free environment during and after pregnancy.

Why Awareness Matters

While SIDS cannot be completely prevented, understanding the risk factors and practicing safe sleep can dramatically reduce the likelihood. For parents, caregivers, and anyone who helps care for infants, awareness is one of the strongest tools we have.

By creating safe sleep environments and spreading knowledge about SIDS, we can continue to protect babies and give families peace of mind during those precious early months.