October is SIDS Awareness Month! We think it is important to raise awareness on this topic, and encourage you to educate yourself as well.
SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is the sudden unexplained death of a previously healthy infant. 90% of the time, SIDS occurs in babies less than 6 months old, and usually during sleep. A diagnosis of SIDS is given once the death remains unexplained even after a thorough autopsy and detailed investigation.
While there is no one “cause” of SIDS, some risk factors have been identified:
1. Preterm birth or low birth weight
2. Being born to a mother under the age of 20
3. Having a lot of siblings, especially close in age
4. Babies who have suffered an apparent life-threatening event (stopped breathing,turned pale, blue, and limp and required resuscitation)
5. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Non-Hispanic blacks
6. Being a boy
As a preventative measure, it is recommended to follow the A, B, Cs of Safe Sleep:
Your baby should be Alone on their Back in a Crib.
Source: http://www.babycenter.com/0_sids-keeping-your-baby-safe-during-sleep_419.bc
Please watch the video below of Kat and John Clifford’s brave and tragic story about losing their daughter, Kylie Xiu, to SIDS – and the tangible hope they ultimately brought others through their experience.