New Ways To Prevent SIDS

The memory of losing her infant son, Colton, is still unbearable to Kristen Marr nearly seven years later. "He was 2 months old and in perfect health when I put him down on his back for a nap," she recalls. But when she tiptoed into the nursery of her home in Crofton, Maryland, to check on him, Colton had stopped breathing. Marr dialed 911 and tried to perform CPR on her infant. But it was too late. Doctors later concluded that Colton was a victim of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While its incidence has dropped by half since the launch of the Back to Sleep campaign in 1994, SIDS is still linked to about 2,500 baby deaths every year. And even taking the right precautions (as Marr did) doesn't guarantee that your child will be protected. But here's some reassuring news: Recent research is revealing more ways than ever to reduce your child's risk. Are you doing everything you can to fend off SIDS? Here are answers to your top questions.