Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or “SIDS” is a type of sudden unexpected infant death or “SUID”. Each year in the United States, there are about 4,200 SUIDs. Infant deaths labeled “SIDS” make up about 50% of these deaths. “SIDS” is a diagnosis of exclusion. A baby’s death is called SIDS if no cause of death is found after a complete investigation including: (1) a case investigation, (2) an autopsy, (3) a death scene investigation, and (4) a review of clinical history.

My baby died of SIDS, how could I have prevented this death?

The cause of accurately labeled SIDS deaths is not known. Therefore, it is impossible to prevent these deaths at this time. However, research does show that families that have had a baby die of SIDS are at greater risk of having other babies die of SIDS. Although there is no definite way to prevent these types of deaths, parents should always use safe sleep best practices to create the safest sleeping environment possible for their babies. Safe sleep best practices can be found here, on Healthychildren.org, or on the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Safe to Sleep Campaign

Where can I find SIDS bereavement support?

Bereavement support for families surviving SIDS can be found in-person, by telephone, by internet or through self-help methods.

Garrett’s Voice (in-person individual or group support) - 404-862-3824

Compassionate Friends (in-person groups available throughout Georgia) - 1-877-969-0010 - http://www.compassionatefriends.org/Find_Support/Chapters/Local_Chapters.aspx

The House Next Door via The Link Counseling Center (grief support for children) - Sandy Springs - 404-256-9797; Cobb County - 770-541-1114

Kate's Club (grief support for children) - http://katesclub.org/

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc (online support) - http://www.nationalshare.org/index.html

CJ Foundation for SIDS (reading materials available) - http://www.cjsids.org/grief-and-bereavement/if-youre-bereaved.html

1st Candle (24-hour hotline) - 1-800-221-7437

SIDS/SUIDS Resource Center (general information and information for clinicians) - 1- 866 - 866-7437 - http://www.sidscenter.org/Bereavement/index.html#providers

More information on Infant sleep death, including SIDS and on infant safe sleep, can be found here [hyperlink to “Infant safe sleep and infant-related death resources” page]

How can I help my community learn more about SIDS and infant sleep-related death?

1. If you are the caregiver of an infant from birth to 1 year-old, make sure you use the safe sleep best practices
2. Share the message of the back to sleep campaign with your family and friends
3. Participate in SIDS Awareness Month activities during the month of October
4. Provide infant safe sleep information to your civic and community organizations
5. Provide infant safe sleep information to local daycare centers and childcare facilities
6. Get your faith leaders to host a family health day during which your faith community gets health information on a variety of topics, for example, infant safe sleep, injury prevention, child safety seats, proper immunizations, smoking cessation, prenatal care, caring for special needs children and more