It's what every parent dreads: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the unexplained death during sleep of an otherwise healthy baby. Of the 2,200 infants who succumb to SIDS annually, 90 percent are under 6 months. More boys die than girls, and African American and Native American babies are particularly vulnerable, as are preemies and infants whose mothers smoke. Here's the heartening news: Although it's the main cause of death among 1- to 12-month-olds, it's still a rare occurrence. Babies born today are far less likely to die from SIDS than those born a decade ago. And new research in revealing effective ways to reduce your baby's risk. Here's what you can do:

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