be described) and the geographic locale. Most infants who die of SIDS die at home, usually during the night after a period of sleep. For many years, prolonged apnea was considered to be a risk factor for SIDS. Infants who devel- oped a so-called “apparent life-threatening event” (ALTE), characterized by some combination of apnea, marked change in color or muscle tone, choking or gagging, were considered at risk for subsequent SIDS. However, epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that these “life- threatening events” and SIDS have different risk factors and ages of onset, and are probably unrelated entities. Children experiencing ALTEs are often premature or have a mechanical basis for respiratory compromise. This dis- tinction might explain why home apnea monitors, which have proliferated among American families for “SIDS pre- vention,” have had minimal impact on reducing the risk of SIDS