Sudden infant death syndrome on the decline

Every new parent shares a fear of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). I remember when my daughter was born, it seemed like a mysterious affliction that could come and take my baby without reason or warning.

But while it is true that doctors don't always know what causes SIDS, it's also true that the vast majority of cases are due to babies suffocating during sleep.

Subsequently, it was no surprise when the number of infant deaths dropped dramatically when parents were encouraged to avoid placing infants face down to sleep. In fact, SIDS rates fell by 50% between the mid-80s and 1993.

Now researchers estimate that the number has dropped even further (an additional 63%), thanks to parents changing infants sleeping position from the side to the back.

For more tips on how to protect your newborn, see this article from MSNBC.