The sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old is called sudden infant death syndrome, commonly known as ?crib death? because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. It is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year old. Most crib deaths occur when babies are between two months and four months old. Health care professionals do not know exactly what causes sudden infant death syndrome. Ways to reduce the risk include:



? Place babies on their backs to sleep, even for short naps

? Use a firm sleep surface, crib mattress should be covered with a fitted sheet

? Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from sleep area

? Be sure babies do not get too hot ? keep the room at a comfortable temperature for an adult

? Do not allow smoking around baby

? Keep baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep

? Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Most of these products have not been tested for effectiveness or safety

? Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. Ask your health care professional about using monitors for other conditions.

? To reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on baby's head, provide ?Tummy Time? when baby is awake and someone is watching. Change the direction that baby lies in the crib from one week to the next. Avoid too much time in car seats, carriers and bouncers

One of the things that make sudden infant death syndrome so frightening is a lack of answers. There has been years of research, yet, sudden infant death syndrome remains unpredictable. The most important step you can take to prevent crib death is to put your infant to sleep on his or her back even for short naps.

Most sudden infant death syndrome deaths strike without warning and usually in a seemingly healthy infant and infants who die of SIDS show no signs of suffering.

Most conditions or diseases are usually diagnosed by the presence of specific symptoms. Most sudden infant death syndrome diagnoses come only after all other possible causes of death have been ruled out. This type of review helps distinguish true SIDS deaths from those resulting from accidents, abuse and previously undiagnosed conditions.

There is no single risk factor to determine which babies could be most at risk. Several risk factors combined may contribute to cause and at-risk infants to die of sudden infant death syndrome.

Potential risk factors identified include:

?Smoking, drinking or drug use during pregnancy

?Poor prenatal care

?Pre-maturity or low birth-weight

?Mothers younger than 20

?Smoke exposure following birth

?Overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding

?Stomach sleeping

Some infants may have an abnormality in the arcuate nucleus, a part of the brain that may help control breathing and awakening during sleep.

Stomach sleeping as a major cause of sudden infant death syndrome led the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend in 1992 that all healthy infants younger than 1 year of age be put to sleep on their backs. Since these recommendations the rate of sudden infant death syndrome in young infants has dropped by over 40%. However, sudden infant death syndrome remains the leading cause of death in young infants. This fact is so important that it continues to be extremely important to keep reminding parents about the necessity of back sleeping.

Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All health concerns should be addressed by a qualified health care professional.

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? 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved