Unspeakable sorrow over the tragedy in Limassol, where a five-month-old infant passed away.

The unfortunate little angel appears to have been sleeping in his crib when, around 8 p.m. yesterday, his 32-year-old mother discovered that he was unresponsive. 

He was immediately taken to a private hospital, where the doctors on duty confirmed his death, and the police were notified.

The infant had no external injuries, nor did he appear to have any underlying health conditions, according to evidence gathered by the authorities, who are currently investigating the case as an unnatural or sudden death.

The investigation is in full swing.

The legally mandated autopsy, which will be performed tomorrow morning at Nicosia General Hospital, is expected to shed light on the causes of the unfortunate infant’s death.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome, which is being investigated by the police, refers to the death of a healthy infant before the age of one, usually during sleep. The cause remains unknown.

“It most commonly occurs between 2 and 6 months of age. Sleeping on the stomach increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, so at night the child should always sleep on their back in an environment in a bed that is not soft, with no pillows around them that could fall on them, and no soft toys that could obstruct their breathing.”
_{Kyriakos Hatzilambris – Pediatrician}

Experts recommend that infants, at least for the first six months of their lives, sleep in the same room as their parents.

“It is also recommended that parents avoid smoking, especially the mother. Breastfeeding offers some protection against sudden infant death syndrome, and a pacifier, if given mainly at night, also offers some protection for the baby.”
_{Kyriakos Hatzilambris – Pediatrician}

It is also particularly important to avoid overheating the room in winter, as the ideal room temperature for an infant is 21 to 22 degrees Celsius. As experts emphasize, babies should not be dressed too warmly or covered with too many heavy blankets.

Watch the report by Rafaella Stavrinou: