It's little wonder that new parents fear Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, the leading cause of infant death in the United States. To understand SIDS, you need to know that it is NOT a disease or a condition. Rather, SIDS is a diagnosis that's made when an infant dies suddenly and an exact cause CANNOT be found. Most SIDS deaths transpire during the first year of a baby's life, with 90% of cases occurring BEFORE the sixth month. The peak age is 2-4 months, and there is a male preponderance, as well as higher occurrence in winter. While there is no definitive CAUSE of SIDS, researchers have managed to pinpoint some risk factors that make it more likely. Foremost among the SIDS risk factors is putting your baby to sleep on his or her stomach. It has been theorized that a baby who sleeps on his tummy can "re-breathe" the air that has been exhaled, resulting in a carbon dioxide buildup that can prove deadly. Pressure on the jaw can occur in babies that sleep on their stomachs, which can in turn narrow the airways and make breathing difficult. For all of the above reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends ALWAYS putting your baby to sleep on his or her back. Additionally, your sleeping baby should NEVER be surrounded by fluffy pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals. All of these objects can contribute to re-breathing or suffocation in an infant. As such, ensure you put your baby to sleep on a firm mattress, and keep the crib free of anything fluffy, like soft blankets. This is important for another reason, too: A baby who overheats may fall into a very deep sleep and stop breathing. Keep your little one safe by dressing your baby in light clothing and keeping the nursery room at a temperature in which you feel comfortable in short sleeves. Another risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome is exposure to cigarette smoke, both before and after your baby is born. Additionally, low birth weight, and prematurity, maternal age younger than 18 years, and multiple births are also risk factors. Eliminating THIS risk is easy! DON'T smoke when you're pregnant, and insist that NO ONE smoke around your infant. Preliminary studies have suggested that keeping a fan in your baby's room may keep the air clear, and can also help regulate room temperature. Meanwhile, putting your baby to sleep with a pacifier in his or her mouth may also help to reduce the likelihood of SIDS. And sleeping in close proximity to a young infant, but not bed-sharing, has also been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. Even with all of these precautions, SIDS is scary. For that reason, it may help to talk to your baby's pediatrician about any additional precautions to take to keep your baby safe.