The incidence of SIDS has decreased from about three out of every 1,000 live births in 1991 (when the recommendations were changed to place infants on their backs to sleep) to about one out of every 1,000 live births in 2002.

The danger of SIDS is estimated to be three times to nine times higher for infants who sleep prone (stomach). Of these, about 75 percent die before age 4 months, and about 50 percent to 60 percent die in the winter months. Deaths from SIDS are extremely rare after age 1. Taking all these factors into account and assuming all other risk factors are absent (such as smoking and loose or excessive clothing), one would calculate a risk of 0.3 to 1 out of every 1,000 infants. Another way to look at this number would be to say that 9,993 of 10,000 infants are safe.

My recommendation would be to roll your son on his back after he falls asleep.

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