Sudden Infant Syndrome is the sudden death of an infant between one week and one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including the performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history. Typically, the infant is put down to sleep at night and is found dead in the morning. However, there are instances when babies have died while being held. SIDS Facts 7,000 babies die of SIDS every year in the United States alone. Researchers believe that SIDS probably has more than one cause although the final process appears to be similar in most cases.
Death occurs within seconds, usually during sleep.
The baby does not suffer. SIDS is not caused by suffocation or aspiration, pneumonia, choking or a result of a neglected illness . It is not caused by abuse or immunizations. SIDS is not contagious or hereditary. SIDS occurs in families at all social and economic levels.