Learning how to prevent SIDS can help save the lives of many infants. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the sudden death of a child under the age of one that can not be explained even after a complete investigation.http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/newborn/newbornquicktips/prevent_sids.html SIDS is the leading cause of death for infants that are between the ages of one month and twelve months old in the United States.http://www.cdc.gov/sids/index.htm The cause of SIDS is not known. This makes taking the precautions to prevent SIDS even more important for parents.

SIDS affects families of every race, religion, and income level.http://health.state.tn.us/FactSheets/sids.htm More children die each year from SIDS than a combined total of children that die from cancer, pneumonia, AIDS, child abuse, heart disease, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy.http://health.state.tn.us/FactSheets/sids.htm According to a study done by Fern Hauck and Kawai Tanabe, the rate of SIDS deaths in the United States ranked second among the thirteen developed countries included in the study.http://www.sidscenter.org/Statistics.html The countries with the lowest rate were The Netherlands and Japan.http://www.sidscenter.org/Statistics.html The Back to Sleep campaign that was developed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has resulted in approximately fifty percent fewer deaths from SIDS each year.http://www.cdc.gov/sids/ReduceRisk.htm This campaign provided information for parents on how to reduce the risk of SIDS.

SIDS prevention begins during pregnancy. Getting medical care early in a pregnancy and continuing with regular medical checkups, as well as proper nutrition during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of premature birth. Premature birth increases the risks of SIDS deaths in infants.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm Your doctor can give you some good nutrition advice, as well as help you with any other questions or problems during office visits.

Everyone knows that smoking or using drugs during a pregnancy is bad for the health of the baby. But did you know that smoking and drug use also increase the risk of SIDS if you do it while you are pregnant? They do, and these behaviors should be stopped immediately after finding out that you are pregnant to reduce the risk of SIDS and to help insure that you have a healthy baby.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm Again, ask your doctor for help. He or she may be able to offer support and suggestions to help you quit.

Teenagers who become pregnant put their infants at a higher risk for SIDS than babies born to older women who get pregnant.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm The SIDS risk increases with each pregnancy a teenager has.

Waiting at least a year between each pregnancy can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm The shorter the time period between pregnancies, the more risk there is for an infant to have SIDS.

Newborns spend most of their day and nights sleeping. They wake only to eat every few hours.http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/newborn/behrslep.html Because they spend so much time sleeping, Infants should be put to sleep on their back to help reduce the risk of SIDS. http://www.cdc.gov/sids/ReduceRisk.htmInfants may sleep better on their stomach or side, but these sleeping positions increase the chances of SIDS. An infant needs to sleep in this position every time he or she is put to sleep, even for naps. If an infant normally sleeps on his or her back and is then placed on his or her stomach to sleep for naps, it highly increases their risk of SIDS. Starting the baby out sleeping on his or her back from the time that he or she is born will get him or her accustomed to this sleeping position easier.

Avoid the urge to let the infant sleep in the bed with you. Normal beds are not safe for infants. It is also recommended that you do not fall asleep on a couch or in a chair with your baby.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm Do not put your baby to sleep on a pillow or quilt, this can increase the risk of smothering. Additionally, the use of pacifiers may decrease the risk of SIDS as well according to a few small studies.http://www.sids-network.org/experts/pacifiers.htm

Many parents spend a lot of time creating the perfect nursery. However, some of these items can actually create dangers for the baby. Creating the right sleep environment for your baby can help reduce the risks of SIDS. The baby should be put to bed on a firm mattress. Remove any toys, pillows, blankets, bumper pads, or positioning devices before putting the baby into the bed. Keep the room warm enough for the infant to sleep without a blanket, but not warm enough to overheat them. Dress them in clothes that will keep them warm without the need for extra coverings. Being too hot can increase the risk of SIDS.

Studies have also shown that having a crib, bassinet or co-sleeper in the parent's room, so that the baby can sleep near the mother for at least the first six months can reduce the chances of SIDS.http://www.sids.org/nprevent.htm Mother's get accustomed to the normal sounds a baby makes and often notice when something does not sound right. With the crib or co-sleeper near the parents, they can notice and react to a problem quicker with the baby in their room. (This is also more convenient for mothers who are nursing as well.)