Cot death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason. The post-mortem examination may explain some deaths. Those that remain unexplained after post-mortem examination may be registered as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden infant death, sudden unexpected death in infancy or cot death.

No one knows yet why these babies die. Researchers think there are likely to be a number of different causes, or that a combination of factors affect a baby at a vulnerable stage of development.

Research has shown that certain babies are more at risk, namely boys, premature and low birth-weight babies. The vast majority of cot death happens to babies aged under six months and there is a peak occurrence at two to three months. Cot death can happen to any family but it is more likely to happen in families living in difficult circumstances.

Since the introduction of the Reduce the Risk of Cot Death campaign in 1991 the numbers of babies dying has fallen by around seventy per cent. However, cot death still claims the lives of seven babies every week in the UK.

To reduce the risk of cot death:

• Place your baby on the back to sleep;
• Cut smoking in pregnancy ­ fathers too!;
• Do not let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby;
• Keep your baby's head uncovered ­ place your baby with feet to the foot of the cot to prevent wriggling down under the covers;
• If your baby is unwell seek medical advice promptly;
• Parents should not sleep with their baby in their bed if either partner:
  • is a smoker, even if they never smoked in bed or in their home;
  • has been drinking alcohol;
  • takes medication or drugs that make them drowsy;
  • feels very tired.
• Bed sharing should be avoided if a baby was born prematurely, with a low birth weight or has a high temperature.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot in the parents' bedroom for the first six months.

Inheritance patterns
None.

Prenatal diagnosis
None.

Medical text written April 2000 by Dr Sarah Levine, Medical Adviser to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, London, UK. Last updated October 2005 by Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Infant Health and Developmental Physiology, Institute of Child Health, Bristol, UK and the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, London, UK.

FOUNDATION FOR THE STUDY OF INFANT DEATHS

Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
Artillery House
11-19 Artillery Row
London SW1P 1RT
Tel: 020 7233 2090 Helpline
Tel: 020 7222 8001 General
Fax: 020 7222 8002
e-mail: support@fsid.org.uk
Web: http://www.fsid.org.uk

The Foundation is a National Registered Charity No. 262191, established in 1971. It is the UK's leading baby charity working to prevent sudden infant deaths and promote baby health. FSID achieves its aims through funding research, supporting families, promoting safe infant care advice to parents and professionals and working with professionals to improve investigations when a baby dies. In particular, FSID runs CONI (Care Of the Next Infant) with the NHS, to support bereaved families when they have subsequent babies. The Foundation has a network of trained befrienders and produces a range of publications including the leaflet 'When a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly'.

Group details last updated February 2008.

THE SCOTTISH COT DEATH TRUST

The Scottish Cot Death Trust
Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Yorkhill
Glasgow
G3 8SJ
Tel: 0141 357 3946 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
e-mail: contact@sidscotland.org.uk
Web: http://www.sidscotland.org.uk

The Trust is a Scottish Charity No. SC003458, established in 1985. It offers support to bereaved families and awards research grants. It publishes a newsletter twice a year and acts as a centre for advice, information and education about sudden infant death. Details on request. The Trust has a mailing list of 1,200.

Group details last updated June 2007.