Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy
Every year, about 60 babies in New Zealand die from Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI).
Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) includes:
- deaths that can be explained (for example, suffocation or accidental choking) and
- deaths that cannot be explained (for example Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death).
Most SUDI is explainable and happens when a baby is asleep in an unsafe sleeping environment. Common causes are suffocation by bedding or accidental smothering by an adult or child who is sleeping with the baby.
Safe sleep – how to protect your baby
SUDI is extremely rare when babies are protected by being put to bed in safe sleep conditions.
You can protect your baby by doing the following things:
- Put your baby to sleep on their back with their face up. A baby’s breathing works best in this position.
- Ensure your baby’s face is clear of bedding and they can’t get trapped or strangled. Avoid using pillows and bumper pads; don’t put baby down on soft surfaces; make sure there are no loose blankets; remove any cords from bedding; ensure there are no gaps in their bed.
- Your baby is safest in their own bed (a cot, bassinette, wahakura or pepipod) and in the same room as their parent/caregiver (when the parent/caregiver is also asleep). Babies shouldn’t sleep in bed with another person (either adult or child).
- Your baby should be smokefree in the womb and after birth. Also make sure friends and family don’t smoke around baby.
-
If possible, breastfeed your baby.
Find out more from the Ministry
Resources
Preventing Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)
Available on HealthEd.
Page last updated: 20 February 2013
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