The leading cause of death in otherwise healthy babies more than a month old is SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. It occurs in about 50 of every 100,000 births in the U.S. SIDS applies to any infant whose death is sudden and unexplained.

Usually, the infant is found dead after having been put to sleep, and a subsequent autopsy finds absolutely nothing wrong with the baby. For parents, it is the most horrific of experiences.

No one knows what causes SIDS, but there are several risk factors asociated with it. Babies who are born prematurely are at increased risk for SIDS; so are those who are exposed to tobacco smoke. Laying an infant to sleep on his or her stomach also increases the risk, as does excess bedding, a soft sleep surface or the presence of stuffed animals.

There is no surefire way to prevent SIDS, but in light of these known risks, parents can take precautions to reduce its likelihood. Here are seven quick tips for avoiding SIDS.

–Don’t smoke in the house

–Don’t sleep with your baby in your bed. More and more evidence suggests that parents, especially overweight ones, may inadvertently smother their babies when they’re sleeping with their child.

–Do choose a crib with a firm surface

–Do keep blankets and stuffed animals to a minimum. Infants have little control over their heads and may smother themselves in their bedding.

–Do place baby on his or her back to sleep, never on the stomach.

–Do breastfeed if you can. One recent study showed that breastfed infants are five times less likely to have SIDS as forumula fed infants.

–Do use a pacifier. A recent study has noted that the use of pacifiers is associated with a 90 percent decrease in the risk of SIDS.

According to Oxford researchers, infants who are breastfed for four months or longer develop fewer behavior problems later in life, the BBC News reported.

The study examined 10,000 mothers and their babies as part of the Millennium Cohort study.  The mothers were asked to assess problems in their children by the age of five, including anxiousness and clinginess, restlessness, and lying or stealing.

Only 6 percent of the breastfed children showed signs of behavior problems compared with 16 percent of the formula-fed children, even when controlling for age, education, and socio-economic background of the mother.

Researchers propose the effect may be due to the make-up of the breastmilk, which containes large amounts of a particular type of fatty acid, as well as growth facotrs and hormones which aid in brain and nervous system development

As an alternative theory, researchers also say that breastfeeding may lead to better mother-baby interaction.

Breastfeeding has previously been linked with other health benefits for babies, including lower rates of infection and less obesity in later life.

The study was published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Click here to read more from the BBC News.