When can I stop worrying about SIDS? | Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids (2024)

FAQs

When can I stop worrying about SIDS? | Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids? ›

The majority (90%) of SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age, and the number of SIDS deaths peaks between 1 month and 4 months of age. However, SIDS deaths can occur anytime during a baby's first year, so parents should still follow safe sleep recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS until baby's first birthday.

SIDS can occur anytime during a baby's first year of life (it's rare after 1 year of age). Although the causes of SIDS are still largely unknown, experts do know the risk of SIDS appears to peak between 2 and 4 months of age and decreases after 6 months. More than 90% of SIDS death happen before 6 months.

Once a baby can roll over by themselves, the brain is mature enough to alert them to breathing dangers, and by the time the child is 6 months old, the improved motor skills will help to rescue the baby, so the SIDS risk is greatly reduced.

When can I stop worrying about SIDS? SIDS deaths occur most often during the first year of a baby's life. About 90% of SIDS deaths occur before the age of 6 months. Generally, after a baby turns 1 year old, parents can be less worried about SIDS.

If possible, the family needs to understand that SIDS deaths occur and there's no way to either predict these deaths or prevent them. Further, they need to understand that the baby is beyond medical care and attempting resuscitation measures won't bring back their child.

Babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) are at higher risk for SIDS. Low birthweight babies, weighing 5 pounds, 8 ounces or less, are at higher risk for SIDS.

Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.

SIDS peaks between 1 and 4 months of age, and 90% of the cases take place in the first 6 months of life.

What are the symptoms? SIDS has no symptoms or warning signs. Babies who die of SIDS seem healthy before being put to bed. They show no signs of struggle and are often found in the same position as when they were placed in the bed.

After the age of 1, you can let your baby sleep on her side. However, it's important to always place your baby in his crib on his back onto a firm crib mattress that's covered with a fitted sheet. In the first year, the crib shouldn't contain any loose bedding, bumper pads, blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals.

What season is SIDS most common? ›

For example, SIDS is more likely to affect a baby who is between 1 and 4 months old, it is more common in boys than girls, and most deaths occur during the fall, winter and early spring months.

The critical developmental period for most infants appears to be 2-4 months of age. This is when most SIDS deaths occur. Infants who are born prematurely are likely to have a delayed critical period compared to term babies.

A perfectly healthy baby, even with normal levels of BChE, can still suffocate in a soft mattress, pillow, or blanket. Today, the risk of SIDS is never zero for any baby. Giving a baby a safe place to sleep is the only known way to reduce the risk.

SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.

After 6-months old, babies are typically able to lift their heads, roll over, or wake up more easily, and the risk of SIDS decreases dramatically. However, 10% of SIDS happens between 6 and 12 months of age and safe sleep recommendations should be followed up to a baby first birthday.

A lack of answers is part of what makes SIDS so frightening. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old, and remains unpredictable despite years of research. Even so, the risk of SIDS can be greatly reduced.

Babies at Risk

Several factors increase a baby's risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Baby's age Increased vulnerability to SIDS when they are 1 to 6 months old with the peak time during 2-3 months of age. SIDS may occur up to one year of age.

There are two main differences between SIDS and SUDC: [1] SIDS is much more common, with a rate of 38.7 deaths per 100,000 live births; this compares to the SUDC rate of 1.0-1.4 deaths per 100,000 of the population; and [2] SIDS affects infants up to the age of 1 year, and SUDC affects mostly toddlers, aged greater ...

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the occurrence of SIDS by over 50 percent by improving the immune system, promoting brain growth, reducing reflux and a variety of other factors. While six months of breastfeeding is recommended, only two months of breastfeeding is required to significantly cut the risk of SIDS.