Parents and caregivers can take steps to reduce the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) during the colder months, when infants are at higher risk, according to the National Institutes of Health. These include avoiding overheating an infant during nap or sleep time; placing the infant on his or her back to sleep; placing infants to sleep on a firm, safety approved mattress; keeping toys, blankets, and other loose objects out of the crib, and never smoking around an infant. "Parents and caregivers should dress infants in light clothing for sleep and keep rooms at a temperature comfortable for adults," said Zebulen E. "They should also know that the single most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS is to always place infants to sleep on their backs, for naps and at night." Infants are sensitive to extremes. But over bundling may cause infants to overheat, increasing their risk for SIDS, according to the National Institutes of Health. In cold weather, parents and caregivers often place extra blankets or clothes on infants, to keep them warm.

Guttmacher, M.D., director of the NIHÂ Ally Pall Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).