SIDS
According to the text: “SIDS is the unexplained death, usually during the night of an infant under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after thorough investigation.” Including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. SIDS is one of the leading causes of infant deaths, each year in the United States; about 4,000 infants die suddenly of no immediately, obvious cause. About half of these Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths are due to SIDS.
Although sudden infant death syndrome can strike any infant, males are more likely to die of SIDS than females. Age is also a factor, most SIDS related deaths happen between 2-4 months of age. Race also plays a role, for reasons that aren't well understood, black, American Indian or Eskimo infants are more likely to develop SIDS, along with babies who have had siblings or cousins die from SIDS are a higher risk. Teenage mothers, mothers who smoke, drink alcohol or do drugs during their pregnancy, and those who had a lack of prenatal care also have a higher risk factor.
More parents have started co-sleeping, which is when the infant or young child shares a bed with one or both parents. Co-sleeping has become rather popular especially with breastfeeding mothers. It is also very common in many parts of the world, and is practiced by a large minority in countries where cribs are also used.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not sharing a bed with infants, although they does encourage room-sharing. Co-sleeping can lead to accidental suffocation of the infant in a number of ways.
Co-sleeping is practiced in a variety of ways around the world. In Latin America, the Philippines, and Vietnam, some parents sleep with their baby in a hammock next to the bed. In Cambodia, the family sleeps on hard wooden pallets to protect the sleeping baby