If this just happened: Call 911 if you haven't. This page covers what happens next — the investigation process, scene considerations, and grief support resources specifically for SIDS families. You are not alone, and you are not to blame.

SIDS — Sudden Infant Death Syndrome — is the sudden, unexplained death of a child under one year of age. It's the leading cause of death in infants between one month and one year old. Despite decades of research, SIDS remains incompletely understood. The devastating reality is that it often happens to parents doing everything right.

I've worked cases involving SIDS. These are among the hardest scenes — not because of technical complexity, but because of what they represent. This guide covers what actually happens after sudden infant death and where to find real support.

Quick Answer

After a suspected SIDS loss, emergency responders and investigators will follow required protocols even when no wrongdoing is suspected. In the first 24 hours, focus on immediate support, trusted family presence, and clear communication with medical staff. Specialized bereavement groups and trauma-informed counseling in the first few weeks can significantly improve coping. You did not cause this, and you do not have to navigate it alone.

What Happens Immediately After SIDS

When an infant is found unresponsive and CPR is unsuccessful, emergency responders and law enforcement will be called. This is standard procedure — not an accusation. An infant death always triggers:

  • Law enforcement response: Police document the scene. This is mandatory for all sudden, unexplained deaths regardless of cause.
  • Medical examiner involvement: The baby will be taken by the medical examiner's office for autopsy. This is required by law in most jurisdictions for unexplained infant deaths. It is not optional, and it does not mean anyone is suspected of wrongdoing.
  • Child Protective Services (CPS) may contact you: This is routine in infant deaths. It does not mean you are being accused of anything. Cooperate fully — the investigation is to determine cause of death.

Parents are sometimes treated as suspects before cause of death is established. This is a painful reality. Having an attorney present for any formal questioning is your right, regardless of your innocence.

The Autopsy and Investigation Process

A thorough SIDS investigation includes autopsy, toxicology, scene investigation (including the sleeping environment), and medical history review. This process takes time — typically 4-12 weeks for a complete report.

The term "SIDS" is technically a diagnosis of exclusion — it means the death was sudden, unexplained after thorough investigation, and the infant was under one year old. It is sometimes reclassified as SUID (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death) when the investigation is complete.

While waiting for results is agonizing, try to understand: this investigation ultimately determines what happened to your child. The result — even when it confirms SIDS — provides some closure and rules out other explanations.

Scene Cleanup After SIDS

After law enforcement releases the scene, the sleeping area may need professional cleanup if bodily fluids were present. This is uncommon in SIDS cases compared to other traumatic deaths, but does occur. If cleanup is needed:

  • A professional biohazard remediation company can handle this with the care and sensitivity these situations require
  • Victim compensation programs and homeowners insurance may cover the cost — see our financial assistance guide
  • You do not have to personally deal with this. Let professionals handle it.

You may also need to decide what to do with the baby's nursery, furniture, and belongings. There is no right timeline for this. Some parents find comfort in leaving the room intact for a time; others need to change it quickly. Do what is right for your family, on your timeline.

The SIDS Grief Experience: What Makes It Different

SIDS grief has specific characteristics that make it particularly complex:

  • Guilt and self-blame: Even without rational basis, almost every SIDS parent asks "what did I do wrong?" The answer is almost certainly nothing. SIDS is not caused by sleeping position alone, parental smoking, or other commonly cited factors in typical low-risk cases.
  • Traumatic discovery: Finding your baby is a traumatic event with lasting psychological impact. Many SIDS parents develop PTSD. See our guide on PTSD after traumatic death.
  • Judgment from others: Parents of SIDS babies often face implicit or explicit judgment from people who believe something could have been done differently. This is painful and usually uninformed.
  • Loss of future: Infant death is the loss of a person you barely knew and a future that will never happen. The grief is not less real for its brevity — it's different and needs different support.
  • Impact on siblings: If the baby had siblings, children's grief needs careful attention. See our guide on talking to children about traumatic death.

Support Organizations for SIDS Families

  • SIDS Alliance / First Candle — National organization for SIDS families. 24/7 hotline: 1-800-221-7437. firstcandle.org
  • The Compassionate Friends — Support for families after child loss of any kind. compassionatefriends.org
  • SHARE Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support — nationalshare.org
  • MISS Foundation — Support for parents after the death of a child. missfoundation.org
  • Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep — Photography memorial services for families of infant loss. nilmdts.org

Professional Grief Support

Grief after SIDS typically requires professional support — both for the depth of the loss and the traumatic nature of the discovery. Child loss requires therapists with specific training and experience in perinatal/infant loss and traumatic grief.

Online therapy platforms offer access to therapists with this specialization, often within 24-48 hours. Your regular primary care provider may also be able to refer you to specialists in your area.

Many parents find it helpful to combine professional individual therapy with support groups — hearing from other SIDS families who have survived and rebuilt their lives is something a therapist alone cannot provide.

Need help with the practical side? Our directory connects families with vetted professionals for cleanup, estate, and grief support. Call (855) 566-2405 24/7.

Support planning for parents in the first month

Parents navigating SIDS loss often need both emotional and operational support at the same time. It helps to create a simple care plan: who handles communication, who coordinates appointments, and which daily tasks can be delegated for the next two weeks.

  • Set one primary contact to handle incoming messages and updates.
  • Schedule short check-ins with a grief professional rather than waiting for "readiness."
  • Accept practical help (meals, errands, childcare logistics) even if temporary.
  • Watch for sleep collapse and prolonged dissociation; escalate support early.

Small structure can reduce overwhelm when decision fatigue is severe. Families do better when support is proactive, not crisis-only.