Sudden infant death syndrome, known to many as SIDS, is the unexplained death of a baby, often in his or her crib. It’s a tragic, unpredictable phenomenon that continues to confuse scientists trying to understand its causes. Despite years of research, it’s still not completely clear what causes SIDS, what SIDS prevention should look like, or even what the exact definition of SIDS is.

Still, incredible progress has been made in these areas. What we know about SIDS today is very different than what we thought we knew only a few years ago. To clear up confusions and keep parents informed, Fatherly talked to doctors, studied CDC data, and collected the latest advice on reducing SIDS risk. It’s scary even if you have the facts, but the facts do help.