WHAT IS SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROM (SIDS)?
SIDS is the diagnosis given for the sudden death of an infant under one year of age that remains unexplained after a complete investigation, which includes an autopsy, examination of the death scene(Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines), and review of the symptoms or illnesses the infant had prior to dying and any other pertinent medical and family history. Because most babies sleep in cribs, and therefore, most cases of SIDS occur when a baby is in a crib sleeping, SIDS is sometimes called “crib death.” Cribs do not cause SIDS, however, other aspects of an infant’s sleep environment have been associated with increasing the risks for SIDS.
