What is SUID/SIDS?

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is the death of a infant less than one year of age that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly and whose cause of death is not immediately obvious prior to investigation.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that remains unexplained after complete investigation, which includes an autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the symptoms or illness the baby had before dying.

Mississippi SIDS Facts

• SIDS is the third leading cause of death for infants in Mississippi.
• In 2009, 46 Mississippi infants died from SUID/SIDS.
• Babies are more likely to die of SIDS when they sleep on their stomachs.
• About one in five SIDS deaths occur while an infant is being cared for by someone other than a parent.

SIDS is not preventable. You can, however, reduce the risk of SIDS for your baby.

• Letting your baby sleep or nap on its stomach or side
• Exposing your baby to cigarette smoke
• Smoking while you are pregnant. Get free help with quitting.
• Having a baby before you are 20 years old
• No prenantal care, or late prenatal care
• Letting your baby overheat
• Premature birth or low birth weight
• Soft or loose bedding where the baby sleeps

• Back to Sleep
  • Place your infant completely on his or her back to sleep at night and for naps.
• Safe Sleeping
  • Use a firm crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet.
  • Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib. Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft objects from the infant's sleeping area.
  • Make sure that your baby's head and face stay uncovered during sleep.
  • Your baby should sleep nearby you in a crib or bassinet. Do not let your baby sleep with you in bed or on a couch due to the danger of accidental suffocation.
  • Do not allow your infant to overheat. The infant should be lightly clothed and the bedroom temperature should be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult. Use a sleep sack or similar sleepwear instead of blankets to help keep your baby warm and safe.
• Other Steps to Take
  • If possible give your baby only breast milk for at least the first six months.
  • Do not smoke while pregnant or around your baby and never allow others to smoke around your infant.

Make sure that others caring for the infant (child care providers, relatives, friends, and babysitters) also follow these recommendations.

The death of an infant is a traumatic event that affects the entire family for the rest of their lives.

The impact of a SIDS death affects parents, siblings, grandparents, the extended family, babysitters, friends and many others. Be aware and sensitive to the feelings and needs of these people — allow them to talk about the baby, what happened, their feelings and concerns.

Support services and accurate information can help those affected by the loss of a child to SIDS. Contact your local health department to obtain support services for families affected by a SIDS death.

• Information for Parents and Caregivers
• Facts for Childcare Workers
• Information for Medical Examiners/Coroners

• Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP)
• Back to Sleep Campaign
• CJ Foundation for SIDS
• First Candle/SIDS Alliance
• Healthy Child Care America
• March of Dimes
• M.I.S.S. Foundation
• Mississippi SIDS Alliance
• National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
• National SIDS and Infant Death/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center
• Project IMPACT
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Crib Information Center

SIDS Outreach Program
Mississippi State Department of Health
570 East Woodrow Wilson
Osborne Building, Suite 200
Jackson, MS 39216

Phone: 601-576-7619