babytalk
Five Facts About SIDS
Tragically, thousands of babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year in the United States. Approximately half of these deaths are the result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant in the first year of life. It is the leading cause of infant death between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. Most SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 2 and 4 months.
October is SIDS Awareness Month, making it a great time to raise awareness about SIDS and help parents and caregivers understand the steps they can take to reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related infant deaths.
Read on to learn five facts about SIDS and Childbirth Graphics’ commitment to creating educational materials that are perfect to help teach parents and caregivers about ways to create a safe-sleep environment and reduce SIDS risk.
Fact No. 1: SIDS Is a Type of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death.
Not all infant deaths that occur during sleep are the result of SIDS. Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is a term used to describe any sudden, unexpected death of an infant prior to investigation. In many cases, a cause of death is determined after an investigation, such as accidental suffocation. More than a third of all SUID cases are determined to be SIDS, which means no cause can be determined even after an investigation. In 2022, there were an estimated 3,700 cases of SUID in the United States, including about 1,529 SIDS deaths.
Fact No. 2: Avoiding Tobacco and Nicotine Use Reduces the Risk of SIDS
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for SIDS. Studies suggest that smoking only one cigarette per day during pregnancy can double the risk of SIDS. Exposing an unborn baby to tobacco smoke also increases the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight, which are both risk factors for SIDS. The brains of preterm and low birthweight babies may lack the maturity to control breathing and heart rate, especially while a baby is sleeping. The nicotine in e-cigarettes may also negatively affect a developing baby’s brain and lungs.
Newborns and babies exposed to tobacco smoke are also at increased risk for SIDS. In fact, the risk of dying from SIDS triples for babies exposed to tobacco smoke. As emphasized in our Smoking and Your Baby Folding Display, parents and caregivers should take steps to ensure infants are never exposed to anyone’s secondhand tobacco smoke or e-cigarette aerosol vapor.
Fact No. 3: Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of SIDS
In addition to all of the other wonderful benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. Research suggests that exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of 2 months can decrease a baby’s risk of SIDS by at least 50%. Babies who are exclusively breastfed may awaken more often and more easily than those who are formula-fed, which may help protect them from SIDS. Breastfeeding also boosts a baby’s immune system.
It is recommended that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Breastfeeding should be continued as complementary foods are introduced until a baby is at least 12 months of age. Our Reducing the Risk of SIDS Tear Pad is an ideal handout to provide parents with tips to help prevent SIDS, including breastfeeding.
Fact No. 4: Putting Babies on Their Backs to Sleep Reduces SIDS Risk
Since the launch of recommendations and campaigns in the 1990s urging parents and caregivers to put their babies on their backs to sleep, it is estimated that more than 40,000 babies’ lives have been saved in the US alone. Babies who sleep on their tummies or sides may not get the oxygen they need or have trouble waking up. Rates of SIDS were cut in half with raised awareness to put babies on their backs to sleep.
Unfortunately, rates of SUID have been rising again in recent years. For this reason, it is important to continue to raise awareness about steps to help prevent SIDS, including always putting babies on their backs to sleep and creating a safe-sleep environment every time at naptime and bedtime. Our SIDS Infant T-Shirt features messaging reminding parents and caregivers to put babies on their backs to sleep.
Fact No. 5: Childbirth Graphics Is Committed to Raising Awareness for SIDS Prevention
Childbirth Graphics is committed to creating engaging and effective teaching tools to help new parents and caregivers understand the essentials of sleep safety to reduce the risk of SIDS, including our Loving Baby Care: Sleep Safety Tear Pad, which gives easy-to-follow sleep safety tips.
In addition to the products featured in this newsletter, check out our Your Baby’s First Year Booklet and The New Mom’s Handbook, which discuss ways to create a safe-sleep environment. Find many more great materials and models focusing on infant safety in our website’s sections dedicated to safety and early parenting education.
The information contained in this newsletter article is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
©2025 Childbirth Graphics®