Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

* What is SIDS?
* Cigarette Smoke is linked to SIDS
* Safe Sleeping
* Safe Places to Sleep
* Safe Bedding
* Sleep Dangers
* Common Questions

What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), formerly known as 'cot death', refers to the sudden unexpected death of a baby from no known cause. I have put together this fact sheet on SIDS to help prevent other families experiencing the grief my family did, when I lost my brother to SIDS. The number of babies dying of SIDS is dropping and this is due to the SIDS researchers all over the world educating parents and carers to always place a baby on her back to sleep with her face and head uncovered and keeping her in a smoke free environment. To give you an example of the help the education is doing the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 500 babies died of SIDS in 1989 and in 2003 the number had reduced to 73 babies. So please read the information given in this fact sheet and let's help the number decrease even further.

SIDS is the most common cause of death in babies between one month and one year of age but the majority of babies who die of SIDS are under six months of age. More babies die of SIDS in winter than summer. To this day, the cause of SIDS remains unknown and there is no way of predicting which babies it will affect. However, what has been discovered is that some factors are thought to reduce the risk of SIDS. Since parents were first made aware of these factors through the various educational programs introduced by SIDS researchers, SIDS deaths have dropped and continue to drop.

Babies and young children spend a lot of their time sleeping, so you need to be aware that some sleeping arrangements are not safe and can increase the risk of SIDS or cause fatal sleeping accidents. Research has found some important ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and create a safe sleeping environment for babies and young children. This fact sheet provides you with information to help you create such an environment for your baby or child.
Cigarette Smoke is linked to SIDS
Cigarette smoke harms babies before and after they are born. Parents who smoke during pregnancy and after the birth of their baby increase the risk of SIDS for their baby. In fact, if a mother smokes then the risk of SIDS doubles, and if the father smokes too it doubles again. There is still an increased risk of SIDS if parents smoke outside, away from the baby, and if smoking parents co-sleep with their babies the risk of SIDS is increased again. The reasons for this are not clear. However, we do know that being a non-smoker or smoking less will reduce the risk for your baby. Try not to let anyone smoke near your baby and try not to let anyone smoke in your house, your car or anywhere else your baby spends time.

If you want to quit smoking and you're not finding it easy, ask for help. Call the local Quitline or ask your doctor, midwife or child health nurse for information and advice.
Safe Sleeping
Sleeping a baby on her back reduces the risk of SIDS. The chance of babies dying of SIDS is greater if they sleep on their tummies or sides. Healthy babies placed to sleep on their backs are also less likely to choke if they vomit than babies placed on their tummies to sleep.

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