Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Definition
The sudden death of a sleeping baby under a year old who appears to be healthy. Also known as crib death because most of the time the babies die in their cribs.
What puts your baby at risk?
- Being born prematurely
- Being born to a mother under the age of 20
- Having a lot of siblings that are very close in age
- Certain ethnic backgrounds
- Being a boy
Signs/Symptoms/Treatment
Almost all death caused from SIDS has no warning or symptoms involved. Death occurs when the baby is thought to be a sleep.
Prevention
- Always put your baby on their back
- Don't put blankets or toys in crib
- Don't put a pacifier in the crib
- Don't smoke or allow anyone to smoke around you while your pregnant
- Swaddle your baby
- DO NOT lay your baby on its side
What shoud you do if you think your baby is affected?
Call your doctor!!! If the baby has already passed call 911,
Statistics and Facts About Deaths
- About each year 3,500 infants die of SIDS
- Leading cause of death in babies from the ages 1 month to 1 year
- The accidental suffocation and strangulation