Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Program

SIDS, also known as "crib death," is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation. SIDS can happen to any family, no matter what race they are, how much money they have, or where they live. What's important to know is that nobody is to blame when a baby dies of SIDS, because it cannot be predicted and the cause is unknown.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

• SIDS is one of the leading causes of infant death.
• Most SIDS deaths happen in babies who are under 6 months old.
• African American babies are 2x more likely to die of SIDS than white babies.
• Babies are more likely to die of SIDS if they are exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep.

WHAT IS THE SIDS PROGRAM?

The mission of the Contra Costa SIDS Program is to help alleviate the tragedy surrounding SIDS by facilitating high quality, caring services to families and caregivers who have been affected by SIDS. The program works not only to assist families affected by SIDS, but also to expand awareness about SIDS and to promote risk reduction measures.

WHAT SERVICES DOES THE SIDS PROGRAM PROVIDE?

• Assistance to Families & Childcare Providers Affected by SIDS
  The SIDS Program partners with the Contra Costa Crisis Center to provide bereavement support, information, referrals, resources, and follow-up services to assist families and caregivers.
• Community Education
  SIDS Program staff participate in community campaigns and collaboratives (e.g. Child Death Review Team, Fetal Infant Mortality Review Case Review Team, Childhood Injury Prevention Network-Bay Area) to expand awareness about SIDS and to promote risk reduction measures such as placing infants on their backs to sleep and providing a smoke-free, safe-sleep environment.
• Trainings and Support
  Trainings are provided for childcare agencies, hospital and clinic staff, public health nurses, emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, first responders, and the general public. Trainings reference the most current research regarding SIDS and Safe Sleep practices.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS

Parents & Caregivers

Childcare Providers

Professionals & Healthcare Providers

• For Parents and Caregivers

  Prevention & Education

  • Safe Sleep for Your Baby video
  • Safe Sleep Environment (English | Spanish)
  • New Infant Safe Sleep Recommendations (CDC)
  • Airway Position diagram
  • Is Your Baby's Crib Safe?
  • Baby and Child Product Recall Information
  • Cribs for Kids
  • Safekids Worldwide

  
  

  Grief & Bereavement Resources

  • CA SIDS Program Grief Resources: The California SIDS program provides free grief support materials for the SIDS community.
  • Contra Costa Crisis Center: The grief support line provides free counseling and referrals for Contra Costa Residents impacted by a fetal or infant loss including SIDS.
  • Support After Neonatal Death (S.A.N.D.): This is a free support group for parents who have suffered a loss. The group is facilitated by a licensed therapist and meets twice a month in Berkeley, CA.
  • First Candle: This agency provides compassionate grief support to those affected by the death of a baby through online resources and a dedicated crisis hotline at 800.221.7437.
  • Compassionate Friends: This agency provides support to families after a loss through a network of more than 650 chapters.
  • Open to Hope: This non-profit agency sponsors the award-winning TV series, "Open to Hope." Episodes introduce the public to people who have suffered from the loss of a loved one and found hope again.
  • Wave of Light: On October 15th, SIDS survivors come together to be surrounded by love and support from their friends and families.

  
  

• For Childcare Providers

  • Healthy Child Care America: This AAP-sponsored program features a SIDS educational training program for child care health consultants and other trainers of child care providers and includes a speaker's kit and other training materials.
  • Child Care Licensing Website
  • Contra Costa Child Care Council
  • Childcare Providers Handbook (English | Spanish)

  
  

• For Professionals and Healthcare Providers

  • Contra Costa County Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program
    FIMR facilitates grief and bereavement support through the Contra Costa Crisis Center.
    FIMR Referrals can be faxed to 925-313-6708.
  • AAP Expansion of Recommendations for Safe Infant Sleeping Environments
  • Continuing Education Program on SIDS Risk Reduction: Curriculum for Nurses
  • SIDS Curriculum for Infant Death Investigators
  • SIDS Community Training Curricula (Texas Department of State Health Services)
  • Safe Sleep/SIDS Motivational Interviewing Tool (Sonoma County FIMR Program)
  • How Parents Can Reduce the Risk of SIDS and Suffocation
  • NIH Safe to Sleep Campaign
  • American SIDS Institute
  • Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs