sudden infant death syndrome

noun

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Definition of sudden infant death syndrome

: death of an apparently healthy infant usually before one year of age that is of unknown cause and occurs especially during sleep —abbreviation SIDS — called also crib death

See sudden infant death syndrome defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of sudden infant death syndrome from the Web

Experts point out that the overwhelming evidence of the health benefits linked to nursing — a lower risk for asthma, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and ear and respiratory infections — extend to all countries.

— susanna schrobsdorff, Time, "When It Comes to Breastfeeding, This Is Why Women Never Feel Like They’re Right," 12 July 2018
Breastfed babies have lower risks of several illnesses, including ear infections, obesity, sudden infant death syndrome, certain infections, and leukemia, Philipp said.

— emily williams, BostonGlobe.com, "Why the US should have supported global breastfeeding initiative," 10 July 2018
Initially, it was thought the baby died from sudden infant death syndrome, Alexander said.

— molly sullivan, sacbee, "Murder charges filed in cold case involving death of 3-week-old baby," 23 May 2018
Phil Dotson: His daughter Sierra passed away of sudden infant death syndrome.

— josh gelman, CBS News, "New twist in probe of slain NBA star Lorenzen Wright," 12 May 2018
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office and Milwaukee Children’s Hospital at the time found the deaths resulted from sudden infant death syndrome.

— Washington Post, "Wisconsin woman to stand trial in 1980s deaths of 3 babies," 2 Mar. 2018
American Indians and Alaskan Natives also have a high prevalence of suicide, substance abuse, liver disease, teen pregnancy, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

— ruth hopkins, Teen Vogue, "Native Tribes Could Lose Federal Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty Under Trump," 24 Apr. 2018
Our study is the first to link a genetic cause of weaker breathing muscles with sudden infant death syndrome and suggests that genes controlling breathing muscle function could be important in this condition.

— ariana eunjung cha, chicagotribune.com, "Genetics may make some babies more vulnerable to SIDS or 'crib death'," 29 Mar. 2018
Doctors initially concluded the first boy had died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - in which a seemingly healthy baby dies without warning and without an obvious cause.

— ariana eunjung cha, chicagotribune.com, "Genetics may make some babies more vulnerable to SIDS or 'crib death'," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sudden infant death syndrome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sudden infant death syndrome

1969

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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