SIDS (cot death)
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), often called ‘cot death’, is one of the greatest tragedies that can strike a family.
This term is used when an apparently normal healthy baby dies and no medical reason for the death can be found.
Apart from the terrible shock and grief that accompanies such a loss, many parents feel a sense of guilt that they might have been able to do something to prevent their baby's death.
But because we don't know why these babies die, parents should never blame themselves. It is just not possible to watch a baby for every moment, day and night, of its life.
A great deal of research is being done to try to find a cause for these tragedies. Although there are still no answers, the National Health and Medical Research Council has identified 3 risk factors that may contribute to SIDS. These are the position in which the baby sleeps, method of feeding and passive smoking.
If possible, babies should be put to sleep lying on their back or side, not on their stomach. Breast feeding may reduce the risk of SIDS and mothers should not smoke during pregnancy and the baby's first years, if at all.
None of these factors causes SIDS and almost all babies exposed to them will not suffer. However, following this advice will make a tiny risk even smaller.
Some people have been worried that routine childhood immunisation is linked with SIDS. So far, this has not been shown to be the case and all babies should start their routine needles at 2 months unless there are medical reasons for not doing so.
Last Reviewed: 04 January 2002
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