All about Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is also known as cot/crib death. As per the name, it is a sudden unexplained death of a child under 1 year of age with no explainable reasons after a thorough biopsy. SIDS is more likely to occur between 2 to 4 months of infants. SIDS is more prevalent in boys. Most SIDS deaths occur in the winter.

Causes: The cause of SIDS is unknown. Researchers believe that low levels of oxygen or a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood might be the reason behind SIDS. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide and so the CO2 levels rise in the blood.

Risk factors of SIDS:

• Sleeping on the stomach.
• Being around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born.
• Soft bedding in the crib.
• Multiple birth babies (being a twin, triplet, etc.).
• Premature birth.
• Having a brother or sister who had SIDS.
• Mothers who smoke or use illegal drugs.
• Being born to a teen mother.
• Short time period between pregnancies.
• Late or no prenatal care.

Diagnosis: A baby is determined to have died from SIDS if no cause of death can be identified.

Treatment: There is no treatment available for SIDS as of yet.

Preventive measures:

• Put your baby to sleep on his back.
• See that you don’t put extra pillows, blankets or bumper pads in the bed with the baby.
• See the baby doesn’t get too hot.
• Always use a firm sleep surface for baby’s the bed.
• Keep your baby away from smoke and smokers.
• Use of pacifiers reduces risk of SIDS, although the reason is unclear.

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