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. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the major cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. However, infant deaths have occurred within the first month to 18 months of life. SIDS claims the lives of 3,000 to 4,000 infants annually in the United States.
Death happens suddenly, and the family often has no time to prepare.
The infant may recently have been given a clean bill of health from the pediatrician. The death of an infant from SIDS disrupts the natural order and is a traumatic event that affects the family for the rest of their lives. The sudden, unexpected death of an infant threatens parents' safety and security and forces them to confront their own mortality. The lack of a discernible cause, the suddenness of the tragedy and the involvement of the legal system make a SIDS death especially difficult, leaving a great sense of loss and a need for understanding. The impact of SIDS is extensive and affects a myriad of people from parents, siblings and grandparents to extended family, friends, babysitters and co-workers.