Sudden infant death syndrome, usually referred to as SIDS, is "the sudden death of an infant under one year of age, which remains unexplained after the performance of a complete investigation, including an autopsy, examination of the scene of death, and review of the case history".  

In a typical situation, one of the parents or another care giver discovers the lifeless baby in the early morning or at the end of a daytime nap period. There are generally no signs of serious illness to forewarn the possibility of impending death. The small body may have a bluish color to it and there may be pink froth near the baby's mouth or nose. These changes are not specific to the cause of death, but are common to the process of dying. If an autopsy cannot find the cause of death, the diagnosis of SIDS is made. Among other things, current research is looking for answers by studying the normal development of babies, how control centers in the brain function, how babies move from a sleeping state to arousal and how body temperature is regulated. 

Although SIDS remains largely a mystery, there are some things that we do know:

• in the recent past, SIDS was often called "crib death." This is misleading because it suggests that the crib somehow causes thedeath or that these deaths occur only in the crib - both of which are untrue
• SIDS is the most common cause of death in infants after the first week of life
• SIDS deaths are not new - they have likely been occurring for thousands of years 
  the overall rate of SIDS is one out of every 750 babies born alive
  in Alberta, there are about 50 SIDS cases each year
• SIDS is most common in babies between two and four months old
  90% of SIDS cases occur in infants under six months
  it is unusual for SIDS to occur in babies under one month old or in babies over eight months old
• SIDS occurs almost always during sleep
• SIDS isn't hereditary
• SIDS isn't contagious
• SIDS is not due to choking, neglect, abuse or accidental suffocation. 

Research shows that there are several things that you can do to make your baby safer. The following are Health Canada's recommendations:

• Put your baby to sleep on his or her back on a firm flat surface.
• Once babies can turn over by themselves, it is not necessary to force them to sleep on their back.
• Avoid putting soft mattresses, fluffy pillows, comforters, stuffed toys and bumper pads in your baby's crib or playpen as these can interfere with proper air circulation around your baby's face.
• Any plastic mattress coverings or wrappings should be removed to reduce the risk of suffocation.
• Keep your baby warm, but not hot. To check if your baby is too hot, place your hand on the back of his or her neck. Your baby should not be sweating. Use lightweight blankets that you can add or take away according to the room temperature.
• Create a smoke and drug free environment for your baby before and after birth.  No one should smoke near your baby.
• Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It has many benefits and may provide some protection against SIDS.
• If your baby sleeps in the same bed as other members of the family, ensure that those sharing the bed with the baby are not smokers and that they have not taken alcohol or drugs that make them less able to respond to the baby.

NOTE: Since Health Canada's recommendation about putting your baby to sleep on his or her back came out, there has been an increase in the number of babies who develop a flat spot on their head. This flattening of the head is called plagiocephaly {play-gee-oh-SEF-ah-lee).

When a SIDS death occurs, there is no rational explanation. All sorts of emotions can surface at this time. Feelings of guilt are common in many parents and caregivers. They find it difficult to believe that they are not responsible in some way - but they are not. It's crucial for parents and caregivers to:

• speak to each other about their feelings
• find out the facts about SIDS
• talk to other people who have experienced a SIDS death 
• seek professional counselling in order to express and explore their feelings.

Brochure about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Public Health Agency of Canada)
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/prenatal/pdf/SIDS-eng.pdf

Head Shape in Babies (Plagiocephaly)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as 'crib death', refers to the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age. To lessen the chance of SIDS, Health Canada has recommended that you put your baby to sleep on his or her back on a firm flat surface.

Since this recommendation came out, however, there has been an increase in the number of babies who have developed a flat area on their head. This flattening of the head is called plagiocephaly {play-gee-oh-SEF-ah-lee}. Plagiocephaly happens because the bones in your baby's skull are soft until about 1 year of age. In some of the more advanced cases of plagiocephaly, babies will need to wear a specially fitted helmet to correct the shape of their head. If the bones of the head have already fused (grown together), surgery may be required. Plagiocephaly does not affect a child's mental or physical development.

Parents can help prevent plagiocephaly by:

• Allowing for some supervised 'tummy time' while your baby is awake.
• Front to play, back to sleep!
• Changing the position of your baby's head while your baby is asleep on his/her back.
• Changing the position of the crib regularly so that your baby will have to turn his or her head in different directions to see favorite objects such as a picture, toys, mobiles or a window or doorway. Or, you may prefer to move the favorite objects around so that your baby is not always turning his or her head in the same direction.
• If your baby tends to favor turning his/her head to one side, try to use toys, mobiles or yourself to encourage him or her to turn to the other side. 
• If your baby continues to favor one side in spite of efforts to get them to turn his/her head in the other direction, have your baby checked by a doctor or public health nurse. In some cases, neck stretching exercises are needed.
• If you are concerned about a flattened area on your baby's head, don't hesitate to discuss it with your doctor or other appropriate health care professional.

The Helmet Treatment

A specially fitted helmet is a safe, non-surgical treatment for plagiocephaly that is available through the Alberta Children's Hospital (Craniofacial Clinic). The helmet works by exerting gentle pressure on the parts of the skull that are sticking out so that the flat area gradually fills out. Adjustments to the helmet are made at the clinic every couple of weeks. The helmets are generally worn for 23 hours a day for 3-4 months. Ideally treatment with the helmet starts between 6 - 10 months of age (before the bones in the head have fused).

NOTE:  Check with your Regional Health Authority for information on availability from local hospitals.