Mississippi health providers spread awareness about preventing SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, can occur when an infant under the age of 1 dies unexpectedly in its sleep. Physical factors like brain defects, low birth weight, and respiratory infections can increase the risk of SIDS, but there are preventable sleep factors that medical professionals urge new parents to avoid.

State health officer Dr. Dan Edney says he and other physicians always remind parents of the "back to sleep" method.

“Which is laying the baby to sleep… swaddled appropriately, but on their back. The risk of SIDS will go down significantly,” he said. “And never, ever co-sleep.”

Co-sleeping can raise the risk of accidental suffocation. Edney also says it’s important to make sure the baby’s crib and sleeping accessories meet the most updated safety standards.

According to the CDC, nearly one third of sudden unexpected infant deaths have an unknown cause. Pediatrician Dr. Anita Henderson says incomplete data can contribute to these numbers.

“Some infant deaths don’t have really good reporting,” he said. “A coroner's report may not completely and fully be filled out… not every baby, unfortunately, gets an adequate autopsy.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, male babies are slightly more likely than females to die of SIDS.