Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) News and Research

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old. It is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year of age. Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 months and 4 months of age.

Survey: Many adults unaware of key facts that can help prevent SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, unexplained, sudden death of a child younger than one year old.

3 Jul 2025

New hypothesis links caffeine to lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome

After decades of stalled national progress in reducing the rate of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), a category of infant mortality that includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), researchers at Rutgers Health have proposed an unexpected solution: Caffeine might protect babies by preventing dangerous drops in oxygen that may trigger deaths.

11 Jun 2025

Rise in SUID and SIDS during COVID-19 pandemic linked to respiratory viruses

The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2021, according to a new study led by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine.

26 Sep 2024

Finnish study shows 50% reduction in child deaths over 15 years

According to a study by researchers at the University of Oulu, the mortality rate among children and adolescents under the age of 16 dropped by 50 percent between 2005 and 2020.

30 Aug 2024

Researchers receive $2.8 million grant to investigate Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

More than 3,400 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths are reported annually in the United States, making it the country's biggest cause of death of infants from 1 month to 1 year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

16 Aug 2024

New brain connectivity maps offer insights into human consciousness

In a paper titled, "Multimodal MRI reveals brainstem connections that sustain wakefulness in human consciousness," published today in Science Translational Medicine, a group of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, and Boston Children's Hospital, created a connectivity map of a brain network that they propose is critical to human consciousness.

2 May 2024

Prenatal exposure to cannabinoids linked to newborn mortality and respiratory problems

Consumption of cannabis (marijuana) or derivatives during pregnancy can cause respiratory problems for the baby, such as impaired control of breathing and diminished sensitivity to carbon dioxide, both of which favor sudden infant death syndrome.

25 Apr 2023

Chromosomal microarray analysis could help identify the cause of SIDS or SUDC in older children

A genetic test known as chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) could help identify the cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or its counterpart in older children, known as sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), finds a study led by Boston Children's Hospital.

7 Nov 2022

AAP recommends breastfeeding for 2 years

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers to continue breastfeeding for two years or beyond.

30 Jun 2022

Researchers identify new spinal oxygen sensors capable of protecting the body from hypoxia

University of Calgary researchers have identified a new oxygen sensing mechanism in a small population of spinal cord neurons capable of protecting the brain and other vital organs from low oxygen (hypoxia).

22 Apr 2022

Study identifies genetic causes of sudden unexplained deaths in children aged 1 year and older

A new study found that changes in specific genes may contribute each year to the roughly 400 sudden unexplained deaths in children (SUDC) aged 1 year and older—and separately from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

20 Dec 2021

Will the future of global health rely upon addressing air pollution?

We speak to Dr. Philip Landrigan about his latest research into air pollution and how African countries are in a prime position to take action against it.

12 Nov 2021

Healthy eating during pregnancy is fundamental for mother and child

Healthy and balanced nutrition during pregnancy and early infancy is important for mother and child. However, despite some recent progress in Europe, there is still a long way to achieve the nutrition targets set by the WHO to improve maternal, infant and young child nutrition.

29 Jul 2021

New genetic biobank could hold the key to preventing SIDS

A state-of-the-art genetic biobank could hold the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), potentially saving the lives of hundreds of babies who die from the devastating condition each year.

5 Jul 2021

Criminalization of immigration policies associated with adverse birth outcomes

The criminalization of immigration policies are associated with higher rates of preterm birth for Black women born outside the United States, while inclusive immigrant policies were associated with lower preterm birth for all women born outside the U.S., particularly white women.

13 Apr 2021

Exposure to periods of low oxygen can result in underdeveloped jaw cartilage

Breathing in adequate amounts of oxygen is critical for human life. However, certain disorders can cause individuals to go through periods where they are exposed to periodical low levels of oxygen, called intermittent hypoxia (IH).

1 Mar 2021

Toddler sleep habits could help explain the association between household poverty and BMI

Establishing a consistent sleep schedule for a toddler can be one of the most challenging aspects of child rearing, but it also may be one of the most important.

22 Feb 2021

UVA research sheds light on how baby’s first breath triggers lifelong changes in breathing systems

There are few moments in life as precious, as critical and as celebrated as baby’s first breath. New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine sheds light on the lifelong changes in breathing systems that occur precisely with that first breath – and may offer important insights into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

4 Dec 2020

Combination of alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy increases health risk in newborns

University of Houston researchers have found that during early pregnancy, the mix of alcohol and nicotine significantly alters the gene regulatory pathways of the developing fetus, which can lead to major deficiencies in brain development.

24 Sep 2020

Study reveals underlying mechanism for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

Low oxygen levels in the heart have long been known to produce life-threatening arrhythmias, even sudden death. Until now, it was not clear how.

18 Feb 2020