risk factors
Last reviewed 08/2023
Risk factors include:
- prematurity and need for special care at birth
- putting the baby to sleep prone or on its side; the latter has a risk midway between sleeping prone and supine
- overheating
- head covering
- head covering is a major modifiable risk factor associated with SIDS deaths and parental advice to avoid this situation should be emphasised (1)
- parental smoking. Over 60% of cases may be attributable to the effects of exposure to tobacco smoke. Smoking is relevant:
- perinatally:
- by the mother; the more the mother smokes, the greater the risk to the infant of SIDS
- by other household members; exposure of the pregnant mother to smoke increases the risk of SIDS
- postnatally - by the mother or other household members
- poor socioeconomic circumstances
- previous SIDS in the family
- multiple birth
- cold weather
Reference: