A new study from the University of California at San Diego finds that thirty three
percent more infants die of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) on New Year's Day. This figure is believed to be due to the consumption of alcohol by their caretakers on the previous night - New Year's Eve.
The increase in SIDS deaths is beyond the usual increase in winter. The study, which was led by sociologist David Phillips, examined 129,090 cases of SIDS deaths between 1973 and 2006. It is the first American study to look at the possible connections between SIDS deaths and alcohol consumption.
In 1994 the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development started the "Back to Sleep" campaign. Pediatricians and public service announcements urged parents and caregivers to put babies to sleep in their cribs on their backs. Since that time, the number of SIDS deaths have dropped, but unfortunately continues to be the leading cause of death for children under one year old. The study found that the numbers of SIDS deaths increase more on New Year's Day than on any other day of the year. The incidence of SIDS deaths and consumption of alcohol rise every weekend. The study also found that babies of mothers who drink alcohol are more than twice as likely to die of SIDS. The cause of SIDS is still unknown. The study does not make a definite link to alcohol use as a cause of SIDS, but the concern exists that judgment is affected.
"We know that when people are under the influence of alcohol their judgments are impaired and they are not as good at performing tasks. This would include caretaking," Phillips said.