Desert Storks

SIDS

Many parents worry a lot about the chance that their baby might die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS means that babies die suddenly, without warning and for no obvious reason, while they are asleep.

What you can do

Put your baby down on his back to sleep.

Make sure your baby’s head is not covered when sleeping.

Don’t let your baby get overheated.

Keep your baby away from cigarette smoke.

What causes SIDS?

SIDS happens to babies, without warning, while they are asleep. They may be slightly unwell (such as a runny nose), but otherwise they are healthy.

The reasons why SIDS happens are not known, but research has found several things that make the risk of SIDS much lower.

Since parents in Australia and across the rest of the world have changed how they put babies down for sleep, far fewer babies have died from SIDS. Read more »