FACT SHEET:
What Parents Should Know About SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, sometimes called SIDS, or crib death, is:

the "sudden death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history" (Willinger, et al., 1991).

For parents who are expecting a baby or who have a newborn at home, the idea of this phenomenon can provoke concern and confusion. Parents want to know what causes SIDS and what they can do to ensure that their child will not become of the 3,000 infants who die of SIDS each year in the United States. Unfortunately, at this time, the cause or causes of SIDS is still unknown. Most researchers now believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or more conditions that make them vulnerable to both internal and external stresses that occur in the normal life of an infant.

While the medical community cannot predict which infants will be SIDS victims, or what causes one child and not another to die from SIDS, many researchers through years of work have determined some factors that are not causes of SIDS.

SIDS IS NOT:

Caused by vomiting and choking, or minor illnesses such as colds or infections.

Caused by the diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DTP) vaccines, or other immunizations.

Contagious.

Hereditary.

Child abuse.

The cause of every unexpected infant death.

SIDS IS:

The major cause of death in infants from 1 month to 1 year of age, with most deaths occurring between 2 and 4 months.

Sudden and silent-the victim was seemingly healthy.

Currently, unpredictable and unpreventable.

A death that occurs quickly, with no signs of suffering, and is usually associated with sleep.

A syndrome the first symptom of which is death.

Determined only after an autopsy, an examination of the death scene, and a review of the case history.

A post-mortem diagnosis established by exclusion.

A recognized medical disorder listed in the International Classification of Diseases, 9`h Revision (ICD-9).

An infant death that leaves unanswered questions and, thus, causes   intense grief for parents and families.

Knowing that an apparently healthy baby can die of SIDS is frightening for parents. To help ensure that their child is born healthy, parents should take good physical care of themselves. Researchers now know that the mother's health and behavior during her pregnancy and the baby's health before birth seem to influence the occurrence of SIDS, but these variables are not reliable in predicting how, when, why or if SIDS will occur. Maternal risk factors include cigarette smoking during pregnancy; maternal age less than 20 years; poor prenatal care; low weight gain; anemia; use of illegal drugs; and history of sexually

transmitted disease or urinary tract infection. These factors, which often may be subtle and undetected, suggest that SIDS is somehow associated with a harmful prenatal environment.

Sleep Position

In April of 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Infant Sleep Position (AAP), issued a statement recommending that infants be placed on their back or side to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS. In 1994, in response to the 1992 AAP announcement, a national campaign was initiated: the "Back to Sleep Campaign". This campaign was a joint effort of the U.S. Public health Service (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Maternal and Child health Bureau), the AAP, the SIDS Alliance, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs. In 1996, it was reported at the 4th SIDS International Conference that infants who sleep on their side have a greater risk of dying of SIDS than infants who sleep on their back. As a result, the AAP changed its message to pediatricians and parents to recommend the supine (back) sleep position as the preferred sleep position for healthy infants. Even though the side position is safer than sleeping on the stomach, infants who sleep on their side can roll over onto their stomach-the sleep position that carries the greatest risk of SIDS. (Pediatrics, March 2000)

To reduce the risk for SIDS:

Put your baby on its back to sleep.

No smoking while pregnant, or around the baby after birth.

Do not let the baby get too hot.

Put the baby to sleep on a firm mattress.

Take good care of yourself and your baby.

Breastfeed, if possible.

Any sudden, unexpected death threatens one's sense of safety and security. We are forced to confront our own mortality (Corr, 1991). This is particularly true in a sudden infant death. Quite simply, babies are not supposed to die. Because the death of an infant is a disruption of the natural order, it is traumatic for parents, family, and friends. The lack of a discernible cause, the suddenness of the tragedy, and the involvement of the legal system make a SIDS death especially difficult, leaving a great sense of loss and a need for understanding.

The Importance of a SIDS Support System

Members of support groups, counselors, medical and public health professionals, law enforcement personnel, and emergency medical responders, as well as members of the community, may suddenly become involved in the private life of a family. Many parents find it helpful to talk with a member of a peer support group. Others who have experienced a SIDS death can help a newly bereaved parent by sharing his or her grief.

The group provides the opportunity to meet other parents who have experienced the death of an infant and who extend their friendship and understanding to newly bereaved parents. In the group setting, parents are encouraged to talk about the baby who died and express their feelings about death in a safe environment. Gradually parents begin to cope with their loss and are supported in the process

(Mandell, in Culbertson, Krous, and Bendell, 1988).

 Source: National SIDS Clearinghouse

 

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