Five times fewer cot deaths in 20 years

The incidence of cot death, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), in Belgium is five times less than 20 years ago, according to data on the leading causes of death published by the Agency for Care and Health.

The statistics show that SIDS was the cause of death of 19 babies in 2012. "It will never be possible to bring the figure down to zero,” says Gunnar Naulaers of the University Hospital Leuven. “But 20 years ago SIDS was five times more common."

According to the professor, the favourable evolution is due to more precautions being observed by parents to prevent SIDS, such as letting babies sleep on their backs and not smoking during or after pregnancy. The study did not take into account the use of special alarm systems for cribs that are now available in stores.