Risk factors

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:

• 1. Blair PS, Mitchell EA, Heckstall-Smith EM, Fleming PJ. Head covering - a major modifiable risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome: a systematic review.Arch Dis Child. 2008 Sep;93(9):778-83