How does sids occur in babies

Parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking while pregnant or after the baby is born, and always placing the baby on their back when they sleep. Find out how to stop smoking. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but it's thought to be down to a combination of factors. Experts believe SIDS occurs at a particular stage in a baby's development and that it affects babies vulnerable to certain environmental stresses. This vulnerability may be caused by being born prematurely or having a low birthweight, or because of other reasons that have not been identified yet.

Environmental stresses could include tobacco smoke, getting tangled in bedding, a minor illness or a breathing obstruction. There's also an association between co-sleeping sleeping with your baby on a bed, sofa or chair and SIDS. Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature.

Although the cause of SIDS is not fully understood, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk. Read more about reducing the risk of SIDS. Babies often have minor illnesses that you do not need to worry about. The best thing you can do to reduce the risk for SIDS is by following established safe sleep guidelines, as well as keeping your baby away from cigarette smoke, staying on top of vaccinations and breastfeeding if possible.

In the event of choking, drowning or other serious injuries, knowing how to perform rescue breathing and chest compressions can be life-saving. That said, the older she gets, the more her risk will drop. Most SIDS cases occur before 4 months, and the vast majority happen before 6 months. Rapid, shallow breaths for 15 to 20 seconds followed by a few seconds of paused breathing are also to be expected.

But if at any point you notice something that seems concerning, your pediatrician is a phone call away. Dealing with a SIDS loss is one of the most heart-wrenching things a parent or family can go through. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Medically Reviewed by Marvin Resmovits, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. It's something every parent of a newborn thinks about when baby is sleeping.

But rest assured, the risks are very low and there are plenty of ways to prevent it. Here's what to know about SIDS. Back to Top. In This Article. Researchers use the Triple-Risk Model to explain this concept. In this model, all three factors have to occur at the same time for an infant to die from SIDS. Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email. Main navigation Skip left side navigation.