SIDS

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

Approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep-related infant deaths every year in the U.S. That’s a substantial decline since the 1990s before parents were instructed to sleep babies on their backs.

The safe sleep for babies guidelines say infants should sleep on their backs on flat surfaces with no incline. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends no bed sharing.

A new Australian study that may have identified a biological mechanism highlights the need to make sudden infant death syndrome a greater priority in medical research.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has always been simply a tragedy -- a baby under 1-year-old dies with no reason.

SPRING, Texas – According to the March of Dimes, there are about 3,500 cases of SIDS among babies in the U.S. every year. Baby Samuel only lived for seven weeks due to SIDS. - Don’t let your baby sleep in a carrier, sling, car seat or stroller. The family has taken their grief and used it for a chance to educate others while also spreading kindness. They created the hashtag and Facebook page “baby Samuel flies.” You can print cards with a message about Samuel and when passing along little acts of kindness (like buying someone’s coffee or lunch) give the card.

A new study suggests swaddling babies may raise their risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, especially if they're put to sleep on their stomachs. Chris Martinez reports.