Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS,) also known as cot death, is the sudden, inexplicable death of a seemingly healthy infant under a year old, usually during sleep.
Parents who know about SIDS likely think of it as their worst nightmare. Compounding their fear is the prevalence of myths about the condition. The following are some of the most common misconceptions about SIDS and the facts behind them.
Image source: ncemch.org
Myth: Infants who sleep in cribs or cots are more likely to die of SIDS
Fact: Simply sleeping in a crib does not increase the risk for SIDS. On the other hand, sleeping in the same bed as its parents increase an infant’s risk for SIDS. Instead of sharing beds, experts suggest placing the crib in the same room as the parents’ bed. Room sharing is known to reduce the risk of SIDS.
In addition, an infant’s crib should be safety-approved and be outfitted with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet. Loose bedding, toys, blankets, and other soft surfaces can impair an infant’s breathing.
Myth: The DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) and poliomyelitis vaccines cause SIDS.
Fact: Multiple studies have found that the DPT and poliomyelitis vaccines do not cause or are linked in any way to SIDS. The vaccines above are administered to infants when they reach two and four months of age, around the same time that SIDS occurs, hence the mistaken belief that vaccines cause SIDS.
Myth: Putting infants to sleep on their back can cause them to choke on their own vomit.
Image source: nefhealthystart.org
Fact: Sleep experts and pediatricians recommend that infants are put to sleep on their back, as sleeping on the side or stomach can make breathing more difficult. Studies show that allowing infants to sleep on their backs do not increase the risk of choking deaths.
SIDS cannot be fully prevented, but parents and loved ones of infants under one year of age can take steps to reduce the risk of SIDS.
To learn more about SIDS and other sleep-related conditions, subscribe to this Lisa Marie Cannon, M.D. blog.
Dr. Lisa Marie Cannon 
