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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant, usually under one year of age, which remains unexplained after a complete medical history, death scene investigation and postmortem examination (autopsy).

Anatomy of back and tummy sleeping

• SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 12 months of age.
• Approximately 60% of SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 2 and 4 months old. 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
• African American and native American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian babies.
• SIDS occurs more often during the colder months.
• Most babies that die of SIDS appear to be healthy prior to death.
• Boys are more likely to die from SIDS than girls.
• SIDS occurs at a rate of approximately 1 per 1,500 live births in the U.S.
• SIDS cannot be predicted or prevented.
• An overheated baby is more likely to go into a deeper sleep from which it is more difficult to arouse.
• Babies weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces are at greater risk for SIDS.
• Twins and Triplets are at a greater risk for SIDS.
• Babies who are born within 18 months of one another are at a greater risk for SIDS.
• Babies of younger mothers are at a greater risk for SIDS.
• Putting babies on their back to sleep reduces the risk by 70%.
• Babies who are used to sleeping on their back but are placed on their tummies to sleep are 18 times more likely to die from SIDS.
• The risk of a SIDS death is 3 times higher for mothers who smoke while pregnant. After pregnancy the risk rises; research suggests the risk of a SIDS death is 2 times higher for babies living in smokers' households.