American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics: Distinguishing sudden infant death syndrome from child abuse fatalities
Abstract
In most cases, when a healthy infant younger than 1 year dies suddenly and unexpectedly, the cause is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is more common than infanticide. Parents of SIDS victims typically are anxious to provide unlimited information to professionals involved in death investigation or research. They also want and deserve to be approached in a nonaccusatory manner. This statement provides professionals with information and guidelines to avoid distressing or stigmatizing families of SIDS victims while allowing accumulation of appropriate evidence in potential cases of death by infanticide.
Source and rights
Published by Pediatrics, 2001. The guideline itself is at the source linked here.
Prognia summarises this guideline for reference and education. It is not medical advice. Always check the official guideline and current local protocols before acting on it.
At a glance
- Organisation
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Published
- 2001
- Applies to
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Scope
- National
- Journal
- Pediatrics
- PubMed
- 11158487
- Added to Prognia
- 25 July 2026







