Why Are Safe Sleeping Recommendations So Important? 

Many studies have found risk factors for SUDI, but the reasons that some babies are more vulnerable than others remain unclear. It is currently believed that SIDS occurs when multiple things happen at the same time.  

The Triple Risk Model shows there are three factors that increase risk: when all three are present, SIDS is more likely to occur.  

What are these three factors?  

• 1. Vulnerable Baby: A baby who may have an underlying weakness that makes them at risk when under stress. As we often don’t know which babies have this, we consider all children under the age of 1 year to be vulnerable.   
• 2. Age: The risk of dying of an unknown cause is greatest in a child’s first year of life. We know that children, particularly those in their first six months of life, are at a greater risk. 
• 3. Environment: These are the things we can control. Things in the environment such as where, and how we put our child down for their sleep. 

SIDS is more likely to occur if all 3 events are happening at once.  

There are some things we cannot change, such as their age or babies with an underlying vulnerability. Taking care of the environment around our child will help to decrease our babies risk.

This is why following the Red Nose six recommendations are so important. 

For more information on the evidence behind our 6 recommendations, visit Resources and Factsheets | Red Nose Australia