SIDS (or Cot Death)
Reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS is also commonly known as Cot Death and is the sudden unexpected death of a seemingly healthy infant. Although most parents are plagued with worry that something will happen to their child in the night, the chances of your baby succumbing to SIDS is very small, about 1 in every 2,000 which is roughly 300 babies a year in the UK. This figure may seem frightening but because parents are taking steps to avoid SIDS, there has been a 71 per cent decrease in the UK of SIDS deaths since 1991.
Why does SIDS happen?
There is no single-known cause of SIDS, current areas of research have looked into baby’s respiratory systems and temperature control mechanisms, which are very immature in young babies and may make it harder for babies to rouse themselves if, for example, the covers go over their heads.
There are certain factors that make the risk higher. Babies whose mother’s smoked during pregnancy and postnatally had an increased risk of SIDS as well as babies who were born to mother’s who received poor antenatal care. Mothers who were under the age of twenty also had a higher risk of their babies suffering from SIDS but this may be because of smoking as well as poor antenatal care. Premature and low-weight babies are also at a slightly higher risk of SIDS. For reasons unknown to doctors, SIDS is slightly more common in boys and less common in Asian babies. Babies who had a sibling die of SIDS are also slightly more at risk.
The environmental factors that increase the risk of SIDS are babies overheating, sleeping on their tummies, sleeping with toys or pillows in their cot, or sleeping on soft or loose bedding. If your baby is exposed to tobacco smoke she is at a greater risk of SIDS.
Does the risk go away?
SIDS is most common in babies between the ages of two weeks and a year, but the peak age for SIDS is between two and four months. In rare cases SIDS can occur between 12 and 24 months.
What can I do to prevent SIDS?
The good news is there are lots of ways you can help to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Always put your baby to sleep on her back, never on her front. Make sure anyone who is looking after your baby is instructed to do this too.If you have an older baby who is able to turn in her sleep, place her on her front and let her find a position which is comfortable for her. In babies over six months the risk of SIDS is greatly reduced.
- Use a firm dry mattress (if you have borrowed a cot from somebody always buy a new mattress for your baby) and tightly fitting sheets for the cot. Remove all baby’s toys, pillows, loose bedding, sheepskins and cot bumpers from the cot.
- Don’t let your baby overheat. Don’t dress her too warmly or put a hat on her head. The ideal room temperature is between 16-20°C so it is a good idea to keep a nursery thermometer in the room to check on temperature changes. Don’t overload your baby with blankets and sheets, use our guide for what bedding to use, or use a special baby sleeping bag, which can control your baby’s temperature and stop her from slipping under the covers.
- Place your baby with her feet at the foot of the cot when you are putting her to sleep so that she cannot slip down underneath her covers. Tuck her sheet or blanket in at the sides so it cannot move around too much.
Put your baby’s cot in your room for the first six months.
- Don’t ever put a hot water bottle or electric blanket in your baby’s cot.
- Never smoke, or let anyone smoke in the same house as your baby. Even going to a different room to smoke does little to reduce the exposure to cigarette smoke toxins.
- Keep your baby’s face and head uncovered at all times.
- Don’t add more covers to your baby’s cot if she is unwell and has a temperature. Instead swap her blanket for a sheet and remove some of her bedclothes so she does not get too hot.
15°C (60°F) - A sheet and four blankets
18°C (65°F) - A sheet and three blankets
21°C (70°F) - A sheet and two blankets
24°C (75°F) - A sheet and one blanket
27°C (80°F) - A sheet only
A good blanket to use is a baby cellular blanket that has tiny holes on it so that air can circulate around your baby. Most baby shops sell cellular blankets.
If you sleep in the same bed as your baby:
Make sure your baby is flat on her back and is nowhere near your duvets and pillows which may cover her head.
Put a lightweight cotton baby blanket over her rather than using your duvet or quilt.
Do not share a bed with your baby if you or your partner have recently drunk alcohol, smoked, taken medication or drugs, or are very tired.
Can a dummy help with SIDS?
There has been research into the possible benefits of using a dummy when you put your baby down for a sleep, in helping to reduce the risk of SIDS. Experts are still unsure of why this is, but they do not recommend the use of a dummy before six weeks for a breastfeeding baby in case she gets nipple confusion. With a bottle-fed baby it is fine to use a dummy before six weeks.
Will immunisations affect my baby?
There are no findings that immunisations will increase the risk of SIDS so don’t worry.
Many parents are preoccupied with the fear of SIDS, which can be more harmful than good. Resist the urge to check your child’s breathing every two minutes, which will disturb and disrupt her sleep patterns. It’s perfectly normal to feel paranoid and to check your baby occasionally, but try not to let the worries take over. Some parents invest in a monitor that alerts you if your baby suddenly stops breathing, but they often cause more worry than good if they are faulty or if parents begin to check them constantly. If you are concerned about SIDS, talk to your GP or health visitor about your worries.
It may be worth learning infant CPR so that you know how to deal with any emergency situation you encounter. See our video on infant CPR for more information.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.