Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
What else is known about SIDS?
- SIDS is not child abuse nor is it the cause of every unexplained infant death.
- SIDS is the leading cause of death of infants between 1 and 12 months of age.
- 95% of SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
- The incidence of SIDS deaths peaks between 2 and 4 months of age.
- Most SIDS deaths occur during sleep. 20% of SIDS deaths occur in the childcare setting.
- SIDS is not caused by vomiting, choking, or by immunizations.
- More U.S. SIDS deaths are reported during the fall and winter than in spring and summer. There is a higher incidence in boys over girls who die from SIDS.
- African-American and American-Indian infants are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from SIDS than other infants.
