Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), now often referred to as Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant (SUDI), is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is not predicted by medical history and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and detailed scene investigation. It is a diagnosis given to the unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. As kids are at highest risk for SIDS during sleep, it has often been referred to as cot death. By definition SIDS occurs under 1 year of age with the peak incidence occurring at 2 to 4 months.
Risk Factors:
  • Smoking during pregnancy
  • Infants of teenage mothers
  • Premature birth (before 37wks)
  • Multiples
  • Low birth weight
  • Anaemia
  • Infants sleeping on stomach
  • Infants co-sleeping with parent/caregiver
  • Elevated or reduced room temperature
  • Excessive bedding/ clothing/ stuffed toys/ soft sleeping surfaces
  • Genetics ie: more common in males
Factors Reducing Risk:
  • Placing infant on back to sleep
  • Use of Pacifiers
  • A firm mattress (separate to parents/caregivers mattress)
  • Avoidance of co-sleeping
  • Keeping infant in the same room as parents/caregiver for 1st 6-12mths
  • No loose bedding/ soft toys/ cot bumpers
  • Relatively cool sleeping environment
  • Avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke
Contacts:
www.sidsandkidsqld.org/
Disclaimer: 
This is an information website only, based on my experiences and information I have obtained through my own readings, discussions and related to topics of interest to me. For further information, I suggest you do your own research. There are differing opinions on some topics so some websites may give conflicting information and currency of information may change over time. For medical advice, I suggest you contact your healthcare provider.