The statistics are shocking-every week in Canada, three healthy babies die mysteriously according to the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. No cause of death can be determined even through thorough post-mortem investigation and autopsy. These infants are said to be a result of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

SIDS, also commonly referred to as "crib death" is the leading cause of death in Canada for infants between one month to one year of age. SIDS affects one out of every 2,000 infants and is most common in male babies than in female.

SIDS most often occurs while an infant sleeps and stops breathing all together. There is no outward signs of distress or struggling in an infant with SIDS. The infant may face certain challenges like airway obstruction, decreased heart rate or blood pressure for example and its normal reactors (crying, coughing etc.) when faced with these challenges don't alert us.

No one can predict SIDS as there is a lack of warning signs. In fact, the majority of SIDS babies were well cared for and healthy.

Although there's no way of preventing SIDS, the following are risk factors (not causes of SIDS) that parents should be aware of :

• Babies who sleep on their tummies or on their sides
• Smoking during pregnancy or exposure to second-hand smoke
• Overheating
• Cluttered sleeping area
• Soft sleeping surface (increases with tummy sleeping)
• Male and aboriginal babies are more at risk
• Substance abuse during pregnancy
• Teen mothers
• Mothers with late or no prenatal care
• Preterm or low birthweight infants
• Multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)
• Mild respiratory infections
• Unaccustomed tummy sleepers

If you have questions about your baby and SIDS, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

For more information on sleep deprivation, please visit :

• HealthyOntario.com
• www.sidscanada.org

October 2003

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