What happens when an infant who appeared healthy is suddenly found unresponsive during sleep?

Dr. Jessica Davis, pediatric hospitalist and Medical Director of the Newborn Nursery at the Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia, joins medical student Katy Stone Sanchez to discuss Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Through a clinical case, they will:

  •  Differentiate SIDS from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and discuss why SIDS remains a diagnosis of exclusion.
  • Explore important risk factors and the SIDS Triple-Risk Model.
  • Review the differential diagnosis for sudden unexpected infant death.
  • Discuss evidence-based safe-sleep recommendations and strategies for counseling families.
  • Address common questions about reflux, tummy time, bed-sharing, and home monitoring devices.

Special thanks to Dr. Rebecca Yang and Dr. Isaac Jacks for peer reviewing this episode.

CME Credit: Link Coming Soon!

References:

  1. Carlin RF, Moon RY. Risk factors, protective factors, and current recommendations to reduce sudden infant death syndrome: a review. JAMA Pediatr. 2017;171(2):175-180. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.3345
  2. Oltman SP, Rogers EE, Baer RJ, et al. Early newborn metabolic patterning and sudden infant death syndrome. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(11):1183-1191. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.3033
  3. Keywan C, Poduri AH, Goldstein RD, Holm IA. Genetic factors underlying sudden infant death syndrome. Appl Clin Genet. 2021;14:61-76. doi:10.2147/TACG.S239478
  4. Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment. 2022;150(1):e2022057990. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057990
  5. Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Evidence base for 2022 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. 2022;150(1):e2022057991. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057991
  6. Machaalani R, Say M, Waters KA. Effects of cigarette smoke exposure on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits α7 and β2 in the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) brainstem. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2011;257(3):396-404. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2011.09.023
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and statistics for SUID and SIDS. Accessed August 11, 2026.https://www.cdc.gov/sudden-infant-death/data-research/data/index.html?
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in SUID rates by cause of death, 1990-2022. Accessed August 11, 2026.https://www.cdc.gov/sudden-infant-death/data-research/data/sids-deaths-by-cause.html?
  9. Sodini C, Paglialonga L, Antoniol G, Perrone S, Principi N, Esposito S. Home Cardiorespiratory Monitoring in Infants at Risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Apparent Life-Threatening Event (ALTE) or Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE). Life (Basel). 2022;12(6):883. Published 2022 Jun 13. doi:10.3390/life12060883

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