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While instructing the parents to place other infants on their backs to sleep is accurate health teaching to prevent SIDS, it is not appropriate immediately after a child’s sudden death. In the acute grieving phase, the parents need emotional support rather than educational advice.

Although an autopsy may be required for confirmation, emphasizing it during the parents’ initial shock may seem insensitive and is not the nurse’s role to stress. The healthcare provider or coroner usually discusses autopsy procedures.

Stressing that the parents are still young and can have more children is dismissive and minimizes the parents’ current loss and grief. Such statements can cause further emotional pain and should be avoided.

SIDS is rare in the first month of life. Most deaths that occur during this period are related to perinatal or congenital conditions, not SIDS.

The risk of SIDS decreases significantly after 6 months and is uncommon beyond 12 months.

At 18 months, SIDS is extremely rare. Deaths in this age group are more likely caused by accidents, infections, or metabolic disorders, not SIDS.

Side sleeping position, breastfeeding, updated childhood immunization status: Side-lying is not recommended because infants can easily roll into the prone position, increasing SIDS risk.

Supine sleeping position, breastfeeding, soft bedding: While the supine position and breastfeeding are protective, soft bedding increases SIDS risk due to potential suffocation and rebreathing hazards.

Prone sleeping position, exposure to maternal tobacco use, updated childhood immunization status: Prone sleeping and tobacco exposure are major risk factors for SIDS, not protective.

Helping the family in making a plan for future children is premature and insensitive during the early grieving period. The family must first process their loss.

SIDS is not a hereditary or genetic condition. A genetic counseling referral is unnecessary unless there is suspicion of another underlying cause.

SIDS has no definitive cause, and providing education at this stage may lead to feelings of guilt or blame. Emotional support should take priority before any educational discussions.

The prone position increases the risk of airway obstruction and suffocation. Infants may rebreathe exhaled carbon dioxide or become trapped in soft bedding, raising the risk of SIDS.

The side-lying position is not stable, and infants can easily roll onto their stomachs, which increases SIDS risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against side sleeping.

Elevating the head of the bed is not recommended and can cause the infant to slide into a dangerous position that may obstruct the airway. It also offers no proven benefit in preventing reflux or SIDS.