Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden death of an infant younger than 1 year that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including the performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the scene of death, and review of the clinical history.
SIDS is the single most common cause of death in infants aged 1 mo to 1 yr
Education is key for prevention of these tragic events:
Following the "Back to Sleep" campaign, federal SIDS researchers have conducted annual surveys to examine how infant sleep practices and SIDS rates have changed. The rate of prone sleeping for infants decreased from approximately 75% in 1992 to a low of 11.3% in 2002
Since 1992, SIDS rates have fallen approximately 58%. In 2002, the National Center for Health Statistics reported a total of 2295 SIDS deaths nationwide for a SIDS rate in the United States of 0.51 per 1000 live births.
Bed-sharing may lead to compromise of the infants' airway because the infant may be suffocated by soft, loose bedding or a sleeping adult.
Cosleeping on a couch or sofa is associated with an unusually high risk for SIDS and should be avoided.
