SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year old.
It is the leading cause of death in children between 1 month and 1 year of age. Although there is no sure way to prevent SIDS, parents and caregivers can reduce the risk for SIDS.
General Information
SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a complete investigation.
Data from the CDC show that 1,545 infants died from SIDS in 2014 (the most recent year for which data are available).
Health care providers and researchers don’t know the exact cause, but there are several theories.
Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of SIDS by placing infants on their backs to sleep, creating a safe sleep environment, and taking other actions.
Research
NICHD is the primary federal resource for research on SIDS.
Find a Study
NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research projects related to SIDS.
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