Sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death.

The cause of SIDS is unknown. Many doctors and researchers now believe that SIDS is caused by several different factors, including:

Problems with the baby's ability to wake up (sleep arousal)

Inability for the baby's body to detect a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood

Prevention

Revised American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) guidelines, released in October 2005, recommend the following:

Always put a baby to sleep on its back.

Only put babies to sleep in a crib.

Let babies sleep in the same room (NOT the same bed) as parents.

Avoid soft bedding materials.

Make sure the room temperature is not too hot.

Offer the baby a pacifier when going to sleep.

Do not use breathing monitors or products marketed as ways to reduce SIDS.

source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

You can also find some useful guidelines here.

What is also interesting is the Safe to Sleep Public Education Campaign.

The Safe to Sleep campaign—formerly known as the Back to Sleep campaign—aims to educate parents, caregivers, and health care providers about ways to reduce the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death.