BABY
15 Things All Parents Can Do to Reduce Their Baby's Risk of SIDS
Follow these steps to provide a safe environment for your baby.

Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp

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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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What is SIDS? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant 1 month to 1 year of age.
In 2022 117 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUDI) were reported in Australia. SUDI describes the sudden and unexpected death of an infant where the cause is not immediately obvious. This includes deaths from SIDS as well as deaths from other unexpected causes, such as suffocation and strangulation.
Providing a safe sleep environment is the single most important step you can take to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. SIDS is not a topic anyone wants to think about—but thankfully, there are many ways to reduce your baby’s risk.
Unfortunately, there’s no absolute way to prevent SIDS. But, most babies who die have at least one of these risk factors, so following all these tips in an effort to prevent SIDS can definitely make your baby safer! For a complete list of safety tips for parents and caregivers visit Red Nose.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.