The cause of the sudden infant death syndrome is not known. Well over 100 theories have been suggested and despite considerable research there is no proven one cause. It may well be that there are several factors which can lead to cot death. It is common in all races and cultures and in all socio-economic classes. It affects infants who are breast fed as well as those on the bottle. It is not due to suffocation by a pillow, blankets or sheepskin rugs. It is not due to any vitamin or mineral deficiency nor to any other nutritional factor. It is not due to allergy to the house dust mite or to cow’s milk and it is not due to a reaction to a recent immunisation to triple antigen or other vaccine.
And it is definitely not due to neglect by the parents.
If a cause for the child’s death can be found, then it is not classified as SIDS. The death is totally unexpected. The child may even have been checked as recently as that day by a doctor and found to be in good heath.
It is not easy for the parents, other children, grandparents, other relatives and friends to accept the death. The parents have to cope with both grief and guilt.
Guilt is a normal feeling at this time, but is unfounded. The cause is not something the parents did or did not do.
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