SIDS is caused by
gaseous poisoning. It is not a medical matter.
The gases
concerned are phosphines, arsines and stibines,
which are all extremely toxic nerve gases. They
are produced in a baby's cot (or any other bed where
the baby sleeps) by the action of common household
fungus on compounds of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony
present in the mattress (and in certain other
underbedding, e.g. sheepskins).
Babies can be
protected from this gaseous poisoning by enclosing such
bedding in a BabeSafe slip-on mattress
cover.
Breastfeeding does
not prevent cot death.
Smoking does not
cause cot death.
Face-up sleeping is
only a partial preventive against cot death - many
babies have died sleeping face up on unwrapped
mattresses.
The danger of cot
death increases as an unwrapped mattress is re-used from
one baby to the next.
