What causes cot death?
Since The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths launched their Reduce the Risk of Cot Death’ campaign in 1991, the number of babies dying suddenly and unexpectedly has fallen by 70%. But we still don’t know what causes cot death.
In the UK, whenever a baby dies for no obvious reason, a post-mortem examination is performed to try and discover why they died. Deaths that remain unexplained are registered as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden infant death, sudden unexpected death in infancy, unascertained or cot death.
Eight babies die as cot deaths every week in the UK. It claims more babies’ lives than meningitis, road traffic accidents, leukaemia or any other cancer. This tragedy can happen to any baby, but some are more at risk, including babies of low birthweight and those born prematurely. Boys seem more susceptible, but only marginally.
Over 90% of cot deaths occur in babies aged under six months and the risk recedes quickly as children grow older. Of the 419 babies who died in 1999, only 21 were over a year old.
Cot death can happen anywhere and at any time. Some babies die in their parents’ arms or in a pram, but most die in their cots.
Families on lower incomes generally experience poorer health and cot death is disproportionately high in this group. It is difficult to give exact facts and figures, because official statistics are based on the father’s occupation at the time of the baby’s death, meaning that many babies with unmarried parents are not included. But broadly, while cot death can happen to babies in any income group, almost 70% now occur among poorer families.
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