As a result of the national Back To Sleep Campaign, launched in 1994 as a joint effort between First Candle/SIDS Alliance, the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, SIDS rates have declined by more than 50%
Despite this success, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for infants one month to one year of age, continuing to claim the lives of approximately 2,000 babies each year
While SIDS occurs in all socio-economic, racial and ethnic groups, African American and Native American babies are 2-3 times more likely to die of SIDS than Caucasian babies
Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between 2 and 4 months old; 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age
Most babies that die of SIDS appear to be healthy prior to death
More SIDS deaths occur in the winter and fall months
60% of SIDS victims are male; 40% are female
At this time there is no known way to prevent SIDS in all cases, but there are steps parents and caregivers can take to reduce the risk of sudden infant death:
Place your baby to sleep on his or her back at nap and nighttime
Do not smoke while you are pregnant and don�t let anyone smoke around your baby after it�s born
Use a safety-approved crib with a firm, tight fitting mattress covered with only a sheet
Remove all soft, fluffy or loose bedding & toys (including blankets, soft or fluffy bumpers and positioners)
Use a wearable blanket to replace loose blankets in your baby�s crib
Do not put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (sofas, chairs, waterbeds, quilts, blankets, sheepskins, etc.)
Room sharing is safer than bed sharing
Do not dress your baby too warm for sleep; keep room temperature 65 - 71 o F
Educate relatives, baby-sitters and other caregivers about these important safety tips