Researchers closer to cause of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains the second leading cause of death in healthy infants.

Between 2015 and 2020, there were approximately 1,700 deaths a year of children under the age of one. According to Statistics Canada, 83 per cent of those death were attributable to SIDS.

While the number seems high, executive director of Baby's Breath Mary Margaret Murphy, said the number of SIDS related deaths in Canada have reduced significantly over the years.

“We started working with Health Canada years ago regarding the safe sleep guidelines,” said Murphy on The Sam Laprade Show. “Those reduced SIDS by 50 per cent here in Canada.”

Safe sleep guidelines include ensuring the child sleeps on their back, sleeps without anything in their crib and doesn't sleep in the bed with its parents.

The cause of SIDS is largely unknown, though there are recurring patterns around the deaths. Most often SIDS occurs between the ages of two and four months, and usually seem otherwise healthy.

“Unfortunately, there still are babies dying of SIDS and we still don't know the cause, although researchers are getting a little closer.” Murphy said. “Researchers are saying there's the potential that there's several suspected causes of SIDS.”

The current leading theory is known as the Triple Risk Model, combining three identifiable factors to cause SIDS. Those three factors are a vulnerable infant in a critical period of development (two to for months of age), environmental stressors such as exposure to cigarette smoke and sleeping factors such as those in the safe sleep guidelines.

Resources on SIDS can be found on Baby Breath's website, Health Canada and Parenting In Ottawa.

“If you, unfortunately, have a baby who died of SIDS, reach out for grief counselling. It's so important to get help right away,” said Murphy. “It's not just the mother, but also the Father. If there's children in the family, everyone should speak to a grief counsellor, and have that opportunity to discuss what they're going through.”

“Especially this time of year, it's okay to talk to someone and ask them about their baby.” added Murphy. “They want to know, you haven't forgotten them. Yes, they might cry, but that's okay. Because it is so important that we don't forget them.”

Listen to the full interview with Mary Margaret Murphy on The Sam Laprade Show below.