National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
October 1 - October 31
About National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month takes place throughout October each year. It is a public health observance in the United States that raises awareness of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, promotes proven safe-sleep practices, and offers support to families who have lost a baby. The observance is led by the Safe to Sleep campaign at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), alongside partners including First Candle and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What is National SIDS Awareness Month?
National SIDS Awareness Month is dedicated to reducing the risk of sudden infant death and supporting bereaved families. SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation. Throughout October, caregivers, healthcare providers, and community organisations share evidence-based guidance on safe infant sleep and remember the babies who have died. The observance is coordinated in the United States by the NICHD-led Safe to Sleep campaign and its collaborators, who provide free educational resources for parents, families, and professionals.
When is National SIDS Awareness Month?
National SIDS Awareness Month is observed every October, running from 1 October to 31 October. It is an annual, fixed observance, so the dates do not change from year to year. In 2026 it begins on Thursday, 1 October and continues through Saturday, 31 October. The month overlaps with several related observances, including Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day on 15 October, which means October carries particular significance for families affected by infant loss.
Why National SIDS Awareness Month Matters
Sudden unexpected infant death remains one of the leading causes of death among infants between one month and one year of age. In 2022, there were approximately 3,700 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) in the United States, a category that includes SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes. SIDS accounts for roughly one-third of these deaths. The SUID rate in 2022 was about 100.9 deaths per 100,000 live births.
These deaths are often preventable through safe-sleep practices, which is why awareness matters so much. Worryingly, SUID rates rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the largest increase recorded in 2021. Renewing attention each October helps reinforce safe-sleep messages for new parents and caregivers, and it ensures that grieving families know they are not alone.
How to Get Involved in National SIDS Awareness Month
There are many ways to take part, whether you are a parent, a healthcare worker, or simply someone who wants to help spread potentially life-saving information.
- Learn and share the safe-sleep basics – Familiarise yourself with the ABCs of safe sleep, that babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back, and in a Crib, and pass the guidance on to expectant parents and carers.
- Download the Safe to Sleep toolkit – The NICHD provides free outreach materials, including printable guides, social media graphics, and posters that you can use in clinics, nurseries, or community groups.
- Support a bereaved family – Reach out to anyone you know who has lost a baby. A message of remembrance, especially during October, can mean a great deal.
- Donate to or volunteer with a charity – Organisations such as First Candle fund research, run grief-support helplines, and deliver safe-sleep education. Donations and volunteering help sustain this work.
- Light a candle on 15 October – Join the global Wave of Light for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day by lighting a candle at 7pm local time in memory of babies who have died.
- Talk to your healthcare provider – If you are expecting or caring for a baby, ask your midwife, health visitor, or paediatrician about reducing sleep-related risks.
- Raise awareness on social media – Share verified facts and resources using the campaign hashtags to reach new parents in your network.
- Promote safe sleep at work – If you work in childcare, healthcare, or public health, use October as a prompt to review safe-sleep policies and refresh staff training.
History of National SIDS Awareness Month
The roots of SIDS Awareness Month lie in a major shift in medical advice during the early 1990s. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics first recommended that healthy infants be placed on their backs to sleep, reversing earlier guidance. Two years later, in 1994, the NICHD and its partners launched the Back to Sleep campaign to communicate this message to parents and caregivers across the United States.
The results were striking. Between 1994 and 1999, the overall national SIDS rate fell by more than half. The SIDS rate dropped from 1.34 per 1,000 births in 1991 to 0.64 per 1,000 by 2008, with declines observed across all racial and ethnic groups. The campaign became one of the most successful public health education efforts of its era.
In 2012, recognising that risks extended beyond sleeping position, the NICHD and its collaborators expanded and renamed the effort the Safe to Sleep campaign. The broadened guidance now addresses other sleep-related causes of infant death, such as accidental suffocation, and covers firm mattresses, safe cribs, avoiding over-bundling, and avoiding exposure to smoke. October has come to serve as the focal point each year for renewing these messages, alongside the campaign’s collaborators including First Candle, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. If you want to understand the broader landscape of infant health observances, you might also explore World Prematurity Day, which highlights the challenges faced by babies born too soon.
Noteworthy Facts About National SIDS Awareness Month
- SIDS is defined as the sudden death of an infant under one year of age that remains unexplained after a full investigation, including an autopsy and review of the clinical history.
- The Back to Sleep campaign, launched in 1994, helped cut the US SIDS rate by more than 50% within its first five years.
- SIDS accounts for roughly one-third of all sudden unexpected infant deaths in the United States.
- The Safe to Sleep campaign is supported by collaborators including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, First Candle, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs.
- Free, multilingual safe-sleep resources are available so that families from many communities can access the guidance in their own language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National SIDS Awareness Month?
It is a US public health observance held every October to raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome, promote safe-sleep practices that reduce risk, and support families who have lost a baby. It is led by the NICHD’s Safe to Sleep campaign.
When is National SIDS Awareness Month in 2026?
It runs throughout October 2026, from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October. The observance takes place in October every year.
What are the ABCs of safe sleep?
The ABCs are a simple memory aid: babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back, and in a Crib. Following this guidance, along with avoiding soft bedding and smoke exposure, helps reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing National SIDS Awareness Month with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #SIDSAwareness and #SafeToSleep on social media. The more parents and caregivers who learn about safe-sleep practices, the more lives can be protected.
Related Awareness Days
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day – Observed on 15 October, this day remembers babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death.
- NICU Awareness Month – Marked in September, it honours families and staff in neonatal intensive care units.
- World Prematurity Day – Held on 17 November, it raises awareness of premature birth and its impact on babies and families.
Links
- Visit the Safe to Sleep SIDS Awareness Month toolkit
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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