What does not cause SIDS?
• SIDS is not caused by vomiting and choking. • SIDS is not caused by vaccines or immunizations. • SIDS is not contagious. • SIDS is not caused by child abuse. What are the risk factors? • Babies who sleep on their stomachs are more likely to die of SIDS than children who sleep on their backs. • Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are three times more likely to have a SIDS baby. • Exposure to secondhand smoke doubles the risk of SIDS. How can I lower the risk of SIDS? There is currently no way of predicting which newborns will be SIDS victims. There are a few measures providers can take, however, to lower the risk of a child dying from SIDS. • Keep babies in a smoke-free environment. • Babies should be put to sleep on their backs, as opposed to on their stomachs. Studies have shown that placing babies on their backs to sleep has reduced the number of SIDS cases by as much as half. • Make sure infants sleep on firm mattresses. Avoid using fluffy blankets or coverings and pillows, sheepsk
