SIDS: What Every Parent and Caretaker Should Know

October 20, 2023

A heartbreaking event, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurs in 1 out of 3 unknown infant deaths in the United States. Thankfully, the report that SIDS cases are dropping. One reason for this improvement is parent education.��

This October, take advantage of SIDS Awareness Month to learn how to better protect your little ones.��

SIDS Defined

SIDS occurs when an infant dies suddenly for no known cause. Even after medical investigation, it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact cause.��

Often, SIDS happens when a child is sleeping or in the crib or other sleeping area. As a result, many risk factors center around a baby’s sleeping habits.��

Risk Factors for SIDS��

While the cause of SIDS is unknown, certain factors increase a baby’s risk for SIDS. These include:��

Being born prematurely��
Getting , alcohol or illegal drugs while in utero or after birth��
Lying on the stomach or side while sleeping��
Sharing a bed with an adult��

Additionally, a baby’s crib should be as empty as possible.��

“A baby only needs a sleep surface,” says Katharina Graw-Panzer M.D., medical director of the Pediatric Sleep and Breathing Disorders Center at AV�о��. “They don't need any of the things we feel might make it cozy for them.”��

Dr. Graw-Panzer urges parents to keep as little in the crib as possible. The more in the crib, the higher the risk of suffocation.��

“They should sleep on their firm little mattress, which has a fitted sheet, and nothing else should be in the bed,” Dr. Graw-Panzer. “No blankets, no stuffed animals, no bumpers, nothing of that sort … even wedges are not recommended anymore.”��

Protecting Against SIDS��

Safe sleep for babies starts with looking at the baby's sleep habits. The recommends the following to reduce the risk of SIDS:��

Sleep in the same room, but don’t share a bed with your baby. Instead, place a bassinet or crib in your room. It’s safe to feed the baby while in bed, but as soon as feeding ends or the baby falls asleep, transfer the baby to the crib.��
Place babies on their backs to sleep. Once infants gain enough strength, they may roll over in their sleep. That’s OK, and you can leave them there. Just start them on their backs.��
Keep the crib empty. Baby’s crib should have a firm mattress, fitted sheet and nothing else. Blankets, stuffed animals, wedges or crib bumpers put infants at risk for suffocation. With the right pajamas, a baby stays warm just fine.��
Save sleep for the bed. While a baby may fall asleep in a car seat, that’s not the best place to stay asleep. Transfer to a baby bed as soon as possible.��
Keep babies away from cigarette smoke and other harmful substances while growing in the womb and after being born.��

While many parents like to co-sleep, Dr. Graw-Panzer cautions against it.��

“Co-sleeping is not recommended because it places the baby on the same surface [the adult sleeps on] and as well as their bedding,” says Dr. Graw-Panzer. “We now recommend that the baby sleeps in the same room as a parent. In that way, they are supervised, but they don't share the same sleep surface. Anything like a crib or bassinet next to a parent bed would be perfect.”��

Concerned about your infant’s sleep behavior? Make an appointment with the Weill Cornell Pediatric Sleep and Breathing Disorders Center, which is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital. At the Pediatric Sleep & Breathing Disorders Center, we diagnose and treat snoring, parasomnias (sleep walking, sleep terrors), circadian rhythm disorders and more.��

Help your child get the sleep they need for healthy growth. Call (646) 962-3410 to make a Video Visit appointment with our pediatric experts at the Weill Cornell Pediatric Sleep and Breathing Disorders Center.��

Find a doctor at AV�о�� to help your baby grow into a healthy toddler, child, teen and adult.��

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