October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. What is SIDS and what can you do to reduce the risk?
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
According to Safe to Sleep, a public education campaign led by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institue of Child Health and Human Development:
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year of age that doesn’t have a known cause even after a complete investigation. This investigation includes performing a complete autopsy, examining the death scene, and reviewing the clinical history.
When a baby dies, health care providers, law enforcement personnel, and communities try to find out why. They ask questions, examine the baby, gather information, and run tests. If they can’t find a cause for the death, and if the baby was younger than 1 year old, the medical examiner or coroner will call the death SIDS.
If there is still some uncertainty as to the cause after it is determined to be fully unexplained, then the medical examiner or corner might leave the cause of death as “unknown”.”
Safe Sleep for Your Baby
Georgia has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Sleep-related infant deaths occur suddenly, but parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of these tragic deaths by following the ABCs of safe sleep.
Alone – babies should sleep alone in their own sleep space, close to but separate from their caregiver.
Back – babies should be placed on their back to sleep. Every nap. Every sleep. Every time.
Crib – babies should sleep in a crib or bassinet with a firm, flat surface with no extra things such as crib bumpers, blankets or toys.
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