sudden infant death syndrome

the bottom line

Babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are twice as likely as other babies to die of SIDS. About 24% of SIDS deaths are related to smoking during pregnancy. (1) Scientists don't fully understand exactly why babies born to mothers who smoke have an increased risk of SIDS, but part of the problem may be that these babies are harder to wake up when they're sleeping, a situation that may be linked to SIDS.

Additonally, if the baby is exposed to tobacco smoke after birth, it also increases the risk of SIDS. This seems to be a separate effect from that of smoking during pregnancy.

just the facts

• In the U.S., about 3,000 babies a year die of SIDS.

Sources
1. Pollack HA. Sudden infant death syndrome, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention. American Journal of Public Health 2001;91:432-436.

definition

When a seemingly healthy baby dies suddenly and no cause for the death can be found, it is called sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS. In the U.S., about 3,000 babies a year die of SIDS.