What really helps protect your newborn from SIDS
The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but you can still take steps to reduce the risk.
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It’s not uncommon to find a parent standing next to their sleeping newborn’s crib in the middle of the night, a hand gently placed over the child’s chest to check on their breathing. Many new parents worry about the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the unexplained death of a child under 1 year old.
In 2020, there were an estimated 1,389 deaths of children under age 1 in the United States due to SIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk peaks between 1 and 4 months old, and although 90 percent of SIDS deaths occur before 6 months, the possibility is still present throughout the first year. Current research suggests there may be a link between SIDS and abnormalities in areas of the brain that control breathing and heart function, but researchers don’t fully understand why it occurs.
Although SIDS can’t always be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce your child’s risk. Alison Niebanck, MD, a pediatrician with Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia, shares what parents can do to prevent SIDS—as well as certain risk factors that are out of our control.
Sources: Moon RY + 13
- Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I, et al. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jun 21]. Pediatrics. 2022;e2022057990.
- HealthyChildren.org. How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained. Last Updated June 21, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Last reviewed: April 28, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Safe Sleep for Babies. Last reviewed in 2018.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Tips for Keeping Infants Safe During Sleep From the American Academy of Pediatrics. 2020.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Fast Facts About SIDS. Accessed June 28, 2022.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. How many infants die from SIDS or are at risk for SIDS? Last Reviewed Date January 31, 2017.
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- Smith RW, Colpitts M. Pacifiers and the reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Paediatr Child Health. 2020 Jun;25(4):205-206.
- Anderson TM, Lavista Ferres JM, Ren SY, et al. Maternal Smoking Before and During Pregnancy and the Risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death. Pediatrics. 2019 Apr;143(4):e20183325.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Vaccines. Last reviewed: August 14, 2020.
- Thompson JMD, Tanabe K, Moon RY, et al. Duration of Breastfeeding and Risk of SIDS: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov;140(5):e20171324.
- Elliot AJ, Kinney HC, Hayes HL.EClinicalMedicine. Concurrent prenatal drinking and smoking increases risk for SIDS: Safe Passage Study report. 2020. 19: 100247.
- Harrington CT, Hafid NA, Waters KA. Butyrylcholinesterase is a potential biomarker for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. EBioMedicine. 2022;80:104041.
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