ABSTRACT
Answer 1 In a child who was born at term without any complications, the most common causes of death will be ‘cot deaths’ (SIDS sudden infant death syndrome), infection and undiagnosed congenital anomalies, especially cardiac defects. An uncommon but important cause, with implications for other members of the family, is inborn errors of metabolism. Infant deaths are more common if mothers are under 20 years of age or older than 40 years.Teenage mothers are particularly likely to have a baby who suffers a cot death, whereas older mothers have babies with greater risk of congenital anomalies.
