SOFT COT MATTRESSES AND THE SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

Aims. To investigate whether soft cot mattresses are a risk. factor fo r the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Methods. A follow up postal questionnaire was sent to the subjects who were interviewed 3.8 years (range 2.2 to 5.2 years) previously as part of the New Zealand Cot De ath Study, a large nationwide case-control study. Results. 105 Europea n SIDS cases were compared with 828 European controls. Soft cot mattre sses were associated with an increased risk of SIDS (adjusted OR = 2.3 6; 95% CI = 1.06, 5.25) compared with average or hard mattresses. The firmness of the mattress did not interact with the sleeping position o f infant. Conclusions. Soft cot mattresses should be avoided.