Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The death of a baby, usually occurring overnight while it is in its cot, from an unidentifiable cause. Some 30% of infant deaths in the US occur in this way. The causes may include virus infections or allergic reactions, but evidence is growing that crib deaths are less likely in breast-fed babies and more likely in households with low income levels.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), commonly known as cot death in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, carries an alternate name within medical circles.