# What's the cause of "crib death"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787 "2005-01-03T03:35:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787/41 "2005-01-11T02:27:36Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > No. It’s not that they’re “only sort of effective” or have been the target of “mixed reviews”. There is _no evidence of their effectiveness_ - they were pushed by an early SIDS researcher, whose study (of five infants!) upon which he based his claims had three infants die - which were later shown to be murders. > > There just is not evidence that they’d work. If I had a kid, you can damn well bet I wouldn’t be strapping an electrical machine to it that goes off all the time - if for no other reason than I wouldn’t want to wake the kid up with false alarms. I’d like to see the cite for a study involving five infants. Where’d you find that? I think I know the story to which you may be referring, but I’d like confirm my hunch. As in every profession unfortunately, there have been some underhanded dealings tainting research for one’s personal gains… - Jinx ☹ ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787/42 "2005-01-11T03:44:10Z")
Some sources state that being a twin increases the risk, so we were particularly concerned about our two (who are almost a year now, fingers crossed). Dr. Sears’ book claims that co-sleeping helps reduce SIDS - any opinion on that, **Jinx**? ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787/43 "2005-01-11T04:24:23Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > While your citation may be correct, the QT theory goes waaaay back with no conclusive results. My sisters and myself were tested for the QT characteristic in 1974 at NIH as prime candidates. I regret to say nothing came from this study. > > - Jinx I guess, I’m not sure what you’re saying… why were you identified as prime candidates and what were they doing with the rest of the study? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787/44 "2005-10-30T16:49:02Z")
I just read a piece in _Child_ magazine about co-sleeping and SIDS, and thought I would resurrect this (really informative and still current) thread to add it. Hope that’s OK. The authors of the article in _Child_ noted that Asian countries have extremely low SIDS rates, and that parents there typically co-sleep. But those families also sleep **on thin mats, on the floor**. Now, given that SIDS is more likely during cooler months, and that parents are urged to avoid over-bundling infants, and to keep the room slightly cool - this part about sleeping on the floor seems noteworthy. For the past few months I’ve been co-sleeping w/my twins on the floor (not for SIDS fears, they’re toddlers; it’s a long story). As it’s gotten cooler outside I’ve noticed the air close to the floor is much less stuffy. True, it’s not as warm (I zip 'em into blanket sleepers), but it’s somewhat easier to breathe. All other factors being equal, I wonder if that could explain the disparity between U.S. and Asia SIDS rates. It may not be the parents’ presence (although personally I think co-sleeping is great), but the sleeping circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787/45 "2005-10-30T19:41:36Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Germ-free cotton balls? If you do not use anti-septic, hypo-allergenic, polypropylene scrunchies, you may as well put a gun to the kid’s head and pull the trigger, then sign the kid up for deep psychoanalysis! - polypropylene\*!? What if it off gases? Only natural fibers! I don’t mean to sound so flippant, but that is how child rearing (and life for that matter) has become. Fear mongering is so rampant, how does one know what to do? I have nothing to add on the SIDS discussion. You’ve all said anything I might have already 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cause-of-crib-death/282787.md?page=2)