SIDS Linked to Alcohol

Proper sleeping position for SIDS prevention

Through education the rate of death from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) has been cut in half since 1994. It was at the time that the medical community began to urge parents to lie infants on their backs for sleeping.  Despite the reduction, SIDS is unfortunately still the number one cause of death for children during their first year of life.

UC San Diego recently released a report based on the study of just over 129,000 cases of SIDS over the last 30 years. From the data, the researchers determined that there was a significant increase in the rate of SIDS on New Year’s Day each year. The research showed that a child was one third more likely to die on this day than any other day in the year.

While the rationale is not fully conclusive, the researchers say the probable cause for the spike on this day may be linked to alcohol. The consumption of alcohol on New Year’s Eve, by the infants parents, may have led to the parents not adhering to the advice of doctors and ensuring that the infants are sleeping properly.