What is SIDS?
Modifiable risk factors for SIDS include:
Non-modifiable risk factors include:
Risk factors have traditionally been used to help establish the cause of a disease and to then treat that cause. However, if risk factors are known but the cause(s) is not, as in SIDS, the question becomes whether or not it is reasonable to try to change or modify known risk factors in the hope that it may decrease the chances of the problem happening.
It is helpful to consider the risk/benefit ratio when deciding whether modifiable risk factors should be changed. In the case of SIDS risk factors, it is reasonable to change these factors as they not only affect the risk for SIDS but other areas of infant and child health as well and they do no harm to the infant.