[Abigail]

I just found out that a woman that I know's daughter (who is just two weeks older than mine) has just died from SIDS. I know that the cause of SIDS is"unknown", but are there risk factors, or things to do to try to prevent such a horrible thing?

[S P]

they can choke on their spit up or suffocate in blankets (thus the whole back to sleep saying). this all falls under the category of SIDS. It can affect children up to 18 so I have heard.

[T V]

Try not to put anything extra in the crib, lay the baby on his/her belly or side. This mostly effects childern up to 18 mths old, so if the kids are older than that you really shouldn't have anything to worry about. Other than that, I don't think there is anything you can do. I believe SIDS has something to do with babies getting there shot. My cousin got his shots and on his way home he stopped breathing. Hasn't had another shot since. When my kids get their shots, they sleep with me that night or I sleep in their room. Just my theory. Sorry if this didn't help much.

[Bart L]

Many experts believe that SIDS happens when a baby with an underlying abnormality (for example, a brain defect that affects breathing) sleeps tummy down or is faced with an environmental condition such as secondhand smoke during a critical period of growth. Place your infant face up to sleep with no pillow.

[JustCurious]

Recently studies have shown that second hand smoke may be linked to sids. Definately no extra's in the crib. A blanket sleeper is pajamas that are made of blanket material but fit the child like PJs so then you don't need to put extra blankets in the crib. Don't make yourself crazy worring about it because I don't really think it is in our control. We all do the best we can and if our baby dies it doesn't make it our fault.

[kari]

I have done alot of research on this because i was so paranoid i could not sleep when i had my baby. It normally happens to babies who are premature, live in or is around cigarette smoke. babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, Babies who are born with lots of sickness or problems and Babbie's who get smothered in there sleep. No one knows the exact cause or the exact way to keep it from happening. These are just things according to statistics. You can prevent these things by not placing your baby in a crib with pillows or stuffed toys. Dont make the baby to bundled up or too warm, Dont smoke while pregnant and dont smoke around the baby or allow anyone else to. hope this helps.

For the person above (TV) who said to lie the baby on it's stomach or side, you are wrong. You NEVER lie your baby on it's stomach to sleep...they are too small and weak to lift their own heads, and can therefore suffocate themselves during their sleep because they can't roll over or lift their faces up. You put your baby on it's BACK to sleep.

Being BORN is a risk factor in iteself and no matter what you do or don't do or try to avoid it if it is meant to happen to your child it will. You can take every precatuion ever written since the dawn of time on the subject and that won't keep it from happening. You have to just live your live and don't live it in fear otherwise you will never enjoy this time with your baby.

Go to the First Candle website. They have all the latest information.