"SIDS"

Sudden infant death syndrome, known as SIDS, is one of the leading causes for the inflated infant mortality rate in this country today. It is often misunderstood or unrecognizeable.The causes of SIDS are unknown to the general public. The public awareness is increasing.

SIDS is also commonly referred to as crib death. It is said to claim approximately 6,000 to 7,000 babies a year within the United States. This might seem like an astounding figure but when the total amount of babies that are born in the Unted States is compared to that of the number of deaths du to SIDS, it is only a small percentage, that hopefully can be reduced. During the first swek of life is where most deaths taht are associated with prematurity dominate, SIDS is the leaeding cause of death among infannts under one year of age. It is lnly secon to injuries as the cause of death in children less than fifteen years of age.

World infant mortality rates in 2008. source data

English: Infant mortality rates in the United Stat...

Infant mortality rate world map

I think the unknown fact is that SIDS takes more lives thn other more common diseases such as leukemia, heart disease etc. Even thought the cause of SIDS is still unknown, you can sitll take precautions to prevent it.

To help reduce SIDS, Infants should never be placed on soft bedding a pillow, waterbed,sheepskin, or any other soft surface. Do not put any fluffy blankets, comforters, stuffed toys or pillows near the baby to prevent rebreathing. If you must cover your baby with a blanket use a light blanket that reaches no further than the shoulders.

Do not smoke, drink, or use drugs while pregnant and do not expose your baby to secondhand smoke. Infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are three times more likely to die of SIDS than those whose mothers were...