@UCSDHealth Pediatrician Gives Life-Saving Tips During SIDS Awareness Month

October is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) awareness month. The syndrome is defined as an unexplained death of a child less than one year of age and usually occurs during sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 3,500 sleep-related deaths among babies in the United States each year.

Lisa Stellwagen, MD, pediatrician at UC San Diego Health, is available to discuss ways to significantly decrease the risk of SIDS, including:

Placing your infant on his or her back for all sleep times
Using a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib with only a fitted sheet, no blankets, pillows, bumper pads or soft toys
Keeping your baby in the same room as you until the baby is at least six months old
Breastfeeding your baby
Not smoking or allow smoking around your baby

Learn more at health.ucsd.edu/babysleep