Sudden infant death syndrome

Prevention rather than treatment is the goal for SIDS. Prevention strategies include education of infant carers and healthcare providers regarding modifiable risk factors. Healthcare providers can begin to counsel expectant and established parents regarding modifiable risk factors at their first encounter, and reinforce this advice at subsequent visits. Public health-initiated campaigns, such as Safe-to-Sleep, which have been largely credited with the drop in incidence of SIDS during the 1990s, are also a valuable education resource.[123]Department of Health (UK). Reduce the risk of cot death. February 2009 [internet publication]. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_096299.pdf SIDS: safe to sleep campaign Opens in new window

Counselling/follow-up

The occurrence of a SIDS event is, understandably, devastating to families.

After a SIDS event, follow-up is undertaken by healthcare providers of the parents, the deceased child, and surviving siblings to give counselling and to determine if other ancillary support services are required. It may be necessary to continue counselling for a period of time, as not all maladaptive behaviours may manifest immediately after the event.

Parents, carers, and siblings are made aware of the resources available to them, including support groups and grief counselling.

For parents considering pregnancy again, reassurance is given that the likelihood of another SIDS event is extremely low. Added emphasis on reduction of modifiable risk factors, if present, can be considered, although this is balanced with the potential of increasing guilt regarding the initial death if such risk factors were present. After birth of subsequent children, healthcare providers can consider recommending more frequent follow-up, as much for parental reassurance as for monitoring the infants.