The only ways currently known to reduce the odds of SIDS are to put your baby to sleep on his or her back and avoid the use of certain bedding.

The incidence of SIDS has dropped significantly (by almost one-half) since the medical community began the "Back to Bed" campaign. Enough data now has been collected to show that this simple procedure is capable of reducing the risk of SIDS dramatically. Putting babies to sleep (naps included) on their back instead of on their stomach has drastically decreased the incidence of SIDS.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released a statement in April 1999 saying that "as many as 900 infant deaths each year are still associated with suffocation in soft bedding." They recommend babies being placed on a firm, tight fitting mattress and removing all comforters, etc. (for complete details, contact The Office of Information and Public Affairs in Washington, DC 20207)

In the past, for homes in which there has been a previous sibling death from SIDS, home apnea (breathing) monitors were recommended, but research found that they had no effect, and the use of home monitors has largely stopped. Until the nature of the disease is fully understood, complete prevention will not be a reality.

Recommendations from other countries also include:

• Do not let your baby become too hot.
• Keep your baby in a smoke-free environment.
• Breast-feed your baby. (Breast-feeding has not been shown to decrease the incidence of SIDS, however, it does decrease the incidence of some upper respiratory infections which may influence the development of SIDS).
• Do not lay your baby on pillows, bean bags, or sheepskin mattresses.