I know, this is not an easy topic. It is sad that we have to talk about this but it is also important to discuss. Hopefully, I can help you understand what the difference is between SIDS and other conditions.
SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is when an infant dies unexpectedly, normally during their sleep, without any overt explanation. It is the most common cause of death for infants from the age of 1-6 months of age. Studies show that the rate of SIDS is increased by 2 to 3 times among black, Alaska native, and Native American populations.
There are many symptoms that come with SIDS. Sometimes, there can be a discharge from the mouth or nose in an infant, and sometimes there are no signs at all. A young infant’s death should be ruled as “attributable to SIDS” when all of the following are true: a complete autopsy is performed, including examination of the cranium and the cranial contents, and autopsy findings are compatible with SIDS; there is no evidence of acute or remote inflicted trauma, significant bone disease, or significant and contributory unintentional trauma, as judged by skeletal radiological survey, postmortem examination, and reliable clinical history; other causes and/or mechanisms of death are sufficiently excluded, including meningitis, sepsis, aspiration, pneumonia, myocarditis, trauma, dehydration, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, significant congenital defects, inborn metabolic disorders, asphyxia, drowning, burns, or poisoning; there is no evidence of toxic exposure to alcohol, drugs, or other substances; and through death- and/or incident-scene investigation and review of the clinical history reveal no other cause of death. That can be a lot so there is a lot of room for a sudden infant death to be caused by something else.
SIDs can be caused by a baby is sleeping on their stomach or side, restricting air to breathe. It can also happen if the baby has recently gotten over a cold/infection, or if the mother or father is a smoker/smoked during pregnancy or drank alcohol. Sleeping in the same bed is also a potential cause — there is a risk for the parent to accidentally roll over and suffocate the child. Overheating is also a cause. There are also different risks depending on the infant, for example, boys are slightly more likely to die from SIDS than girls. Babies who are nonwhite have higher risks for reasons unknown. If there is a family history of dying from SIDS, the chances increase as well. Being premature is another risk. The mother can also be a cause, again by smoking, or she can be a risk by receiving insufficient prenatal care, being under 20 years old, or using drugs and alcohol. However, a baby can have none of these risks apply to them and they could still die from SIDS. SIDs is still being researched, and the cause of every SIDS-related death is not completely known. Prevention for SIDS is placing the baby on their back, keeping their crib or cot clean, avoiding overheating your baby, and keeping your baby in your room.
It can be hard to tell why a baby died suddenly. It is also very, very tragic. Most likely it is at no fault of the parent even if they feel that it is. Hopefully understanding the risks and causes of SIDS can help prevent SIDS deaths for at least a little.
Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndr…
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40343983?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents