What is Infant Mortality/SIDS?
Infant Mortality/SIDS is the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that cannot be explained by information collected during a thorough investigation. An investigation should include a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history. Although the overall rate of infant mortality/SIDS in the United States has declined by more than 50% since 1990, rates have declined less among African American and American Indian/Alaska Native infants. Moreover, infant mortality/SIDS is still the third leading cause of infant deaths in the United States and the leading cause of death among infants 28–364 days. What are risk factors? The cause of infant mortality/SIDS is unknown. Several factors have been identified that increase an infant’s risk for SIDS: • Tummy (prone) or side sleeping – Infants who are put to sleep on their tummy or side are more likely to die from SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs. • Soft sleep surfaces – Sleeping on a wat
