Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the term used to describe the sudden and unexplained death of an infant who’s between 1 month and 1 year of age, even after thorough investigation. This investigation includes performing an autopsy, examining the death scene and reviewing the baby’s medical history. If the medical examiner or coroner can’t find a cause for the death and the infant was younger than 1 year old, they’ll call the death SIDS.

Most babies who die of SIDS are between 2 and 4 months old, and 90% are younger than 6 months old. Most of these babies appear to have died during their sleep, usually between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. This is why other names for SIDS include “crib death” or “cot death.” Cribs don’t cause SIDS, but a baby’s sleep environment can affect sleep-related causes of death. The best way to prevent SIDS is by placing your baby to sleep on their back.

SIDS vs. SUID

SIDS isn’t the cause of every sudden infant death. Every year, thousands of infants in the U.S. die suddenly and unexpectedly. Researchers call these deaths SUID, which stands for sudden unexpected infant death. SUID includes all unexpected deaths. It includes those with a clear cause, such as suffocation, and those without a known cause, such as SIDS. One-half of all SUID cases are SIDS.

How common is SIDS?

SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies between 1 month and 1 year old in the United States. About 2,500 infants die every year because of SIDS.