Who is affected by SIDS

The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) dropped throughout the 1990s, but it remains the leading cause of death for babies younger than 6 months of age.¹

• The 1998 SIDS rate in the United States was 64 out of every 100,000 live births.² The SIDS rate fell over 40% in the United States between 1995 and 2000. Much of this decline corresponds with the national "Back to Sleep" educational campaign that publicized the importance of placing babies to sleep on their back.²
• Approximately 65% to 75% of the SIDS cases in the United States occur during the winter months.³
• In the United States, the SIDS rate is higher for African Americans and some Native American populations as compared to Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics.²
• The rate of SIDS deaths in other countries varies, in part because SIDS is not defined consistently throughout the world.

Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: October 4, 2006
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Julien I. E. Hoffman, MD - Pediatrics
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