SIDS
The short definition
SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. It is the classification used when a baby dies and a thorough investigation finds no cause.
What it actually means
It works like this. When a baby dies unexpectedly during sleep in their first year, a coroner is asked to find out why. If a thorough investigation cannot find the cause, the death is classified as SIDS.
So SIDS is not a thing that happens to a baby. It is the name given to a death with no known cause. Put plainly: SIDS means there is no known cause for the death.
The word Dadda will mostly see on Australian material is SUDI, not SIDS. SUDI — sudden unexpected death in infancy — is the broader term, and it is the one behind the safe sleep recommendations. SIDS is the older and narrower word, and it sits inside SUDI.
Where Dadda will hear it
From his own parents, who grew up with "cot death" and then "SIDS". Also on older pamphlets, in the name of overseas research, and in advertising for products that imply they prevent it.
He will search for it. This entry exists because he will type "SIDS" rather than "SUDI", and this is the entry that hands him the right word.
Not to be confused with
- SUDI. SUDI is the word on Australian material, and the one every safe sleep rule is written against. If Dadda has one word to keep, keep that one.
- A risk assessment of his house. This is the definition of a word. The useful part is the safe sleep guidance, and it is short and specific.