Eight percent of SIDS deaths occur in the first six months of life, this age infants are considered to be at higher risk (Krous). Irritability and poor feeding are major factors in the risk. Babies found to have cyanosis, respiratory distress, hypothermia, tachycardia, or tachypnea is also at a higher risk (Questions & Answers). These factors have been found similar in numerous cases, but are not significant causes of SIDS.
While researchers are still unsure about the causes of SIDS, there is no way to predict or prevent it. Studies exploring child development, nervous system, brain, sleep and breathing patterns, body chemical balance, autopsy findings, and environmental factors are being conducted to learn more about what could possibly cause this mysterious syndrome. For those at higher risk, there are tools available that monitor your baby's breathing patterns while asleep and sounds an alarm when the pattern is broken. The apnea monitor is not a cure, nor can it prevent SIDS, it just gives those with higher risk babies a piece of mind (Questions & Answers).
Parents can take measures into their own hands to reduce the risk of their children contracting SIDS. Placing infants on their backs to sleep reduces the chance of the occurrence of SIDS by fifty percent. Infants should sleep on a firm, flat mattress rather than a soft fluffy one without any covers that they could get tangled up in. there are also wedges, wedge-shaped pillow, made to keep infants from rolling over onto their bellies, lower the risk of SIDS (Questions & Answers).
Mothers that smoke should refrain from smoking around their infants, as well as everyone else. It is bad enough that mother's smokings greatens the risk of SIDS occurring, but second hand smoke doubles the chance. Cigarette smoke is believed to interfere with the development of the lungs and nervous system and disrupts the infant's ability to wake up (Questions & Answers).