SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)?

Question

What age is this no longer a worry??

and cot death or are they the same?

Answer 1

SIDS is not genetic. I lost my first baby to SIDS when she was 5 months old. She was on her back when she died, no blankets or stuffed animals anywhere around her, neither I or her father drank, smoke, or did anything else. Most babies that die from SIDS are in the 2, 4, and 6 month range with the peak being 4 months. There are a few mothers in my SIDS group that lost their babies at 11 and 12 months. There was even one mother who lost her baby to SIDS and the baby was awake not asleep. Positioning doesn't matter either. There are only a couple of babies that were on thier tummies according to the mothers in my group. The rest of them died on thier backs, sides, in strollers, car seats, swings, and even being held. I really get a kick out of reading some of the responses questions like this get. So many people have no clue about SIDS just the basics that they tell you, which is all BS. I once was one of those people but since my baby died and I did everything that I was supposed to, as did so many other mothers in my group, I now know the truth is you cannot prevent it or detect it and positioning doesn't matter. Suffocation and SIDS are not the same thing so a baby that dies from suffocation from co-sleeping, bumper pads, or tummy sleeping is not a SIDS death.

Answer 2

SIDS deaths usually occur before the age of 1. The peak age is between 2 and 4 months. There are some studies that indicate SIDS MAY BE heriditary. There is still more research that needs to be done, but it does seem to run in families. I was a "near-miss" SIDS baby. I quit breathing hundreds of times a day while an infant. I had a daughter that died of SIDS in 1998 at 16 days. My Son also quit breathing several times between 2 months and 4 months but since he came home on an apnea monitor we were able to catch it and he is fine. There are things you can do to lessen the risk including putting the baby on its back while it sleeps. not smoking around your baby or while pregnant, and making sure there are no pillows or loose bedding that the baby could become trapped in.

Answer 3

The danger period for SIDS is between 3 and 5 months. So after 6 months there would be a much lower risk

Cot death is the general term for babies dying in their sleep/cot, SIDS is what they call it when an unexplained cot death occurs.

Answer 4

Cot death is the same. And it's not as uncommon as people seem to think! It happens more to boys and more in cold weather. Nobody knows why. My baby died of SIDS so I know about what I am saying. I'd say after a year you can stop worrying. Much sooner I'm sure but I worried after my son died until my other kids reached age 1.

Answer 5

Yes SIDS and cot death are the same thing. Peak age for it is 1-3 months and from there the risk significantly decreases and stops at age 1.

Answer 6

I was told 6 months. My son is now 9 months and I am still so aware if SIDS. I check on several times when he is in bed of an evening, and make sure he hasn't turned around in his cot and gone under his blankets. He used to have a sleep bag, but when he started to roll over and move around, he would get tangled up and waking himself up. People say to me that I shouldn't worry so much, but I am his mum, its my job to worry!!!

Answer 7

SIDS and crib death are 2 differnt things. SIDS is when the brain tells the child to stop breathing and crib death is when something in the bed with them actually suffocates them. Babys are at a risk for SIDS up untill the age of 1 year. SIDS chances are increased if one of the parents, MOTHER OR FATHER smoked, drank or did drugs or if you have had someone in your family had a baby that died from SIDS. Boys are at a higher rish and so are African-american babys. Babys should always sleep on thier backs and never sleep share.

Answer 8

SIDS is most common up to 6 months, but can happen up to one year. If it happens after a year they call it SUDS (sudden unexepected death syndrome)

And yes cot death is the same.

Answer 9

Scary isn't it, according to this lot my son is in the "danger zone" he's four months. I'm bad enough as it is, waking several times a night to check on him. A few wks ago I found him cold and not breathing, I whisked him out of his cot and rubbed his chest and got a response from him, he didn't cry he just nestled into my shoulder and slept, I didn't put him down until my husband returned from work. I've had him checked over by the health visitor and my doctor and I'm currently waiting to see the paediatrician. In the meantime I continue to lie him in the "feet to Foot" position on his back in a grow bag with a sheet, and I know I should just chill and enjoy him but it's hard with this hanging over his head.

Answer 10

SIDS sometimes is unavoidable but doctors say the risks go up if the baby sleeps on its stomach.


Once a baby reaches 6 months the chance of SIDS go down by over 50%. 0-6 months is when to stay alert to danger. That is when there muscles are still weak and are not able to roll out of danger if they have somehow rolled unto there stomach. Also there neck muscles are still weak and may not be able to get out of a situation if they ended up face down in a crib. They are also to young to realize when they are in a dangerous position. By 6 months they know if they are not in a good breathing position and will start moving there head to avoid danger. By 6 months they will start rolling over on there stomachs. Still stay alert but at this point they are much stronger and can get themselves out of possible crib dangers. Most danger happens when young infants (under 6 months) sleep on there stomach or roll over accidently and smother themselves. Sleeping on the back helps babies breath easier as well. By a year all should be in the clear

Use a sleep positioner. It keep young infants from rolling over on there stomach into a potential hazardous situation. I used one for six months and it kept me at ease


Keep pillows, stuffed animals and heavy blankets out of crib until at least over 6 months if not longer