Reducing the risk of sudden infant death.

The term SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is used when a baby dies suddenly, without warning, while they are asleep and where the baby's death remains unexplained after an investigation of the circumstances of death, a complete autopsy and a review of the baby's clinical history. When no cause is found for the death, it is called SIDS. Between 1985 and 2005, deaths from SIDS in Australia have fallen by 83%. This decline is directly linked to a public health campaign which promoted safe sleeping practices, and particularly the use of the back sleeping position. However, fatal sleeping accidents have not decreased in recent years. Many of the risk factors for SIDS are common to SUDI and fatal sleep accidents, therefore safe sleeping strategies will target all three of these causes of infant death. The risk of SIDS, SUDI and fatal sleeping accidents can be reduced by following some simple advice for taking care of baby. • Sleep baby on the back from birth – never on the tummy or side • Sleep baby with head and face uncovered • Avoid exposing babies to cigarette smoke, before and after birth • Provide a safe sleeping environment, night and day: safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding and safe sleeping place. • Sleep baby in their own cot or bassinette in the same room as the parents for the first 6-12 months.