How to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Summer is upon us and this means that a lot of you as parents or carers will be taking your young babies and infants on trips away, or it may be that other family members or friends are caring for your child whilst you are on a vacation. We would like to remind you of the importance of ensuring your baby has a safe place to sleep during this period, where you may be experiencing things like holidays and trips away which would be out of your normal routine. This is to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – sometimes known as ‘cot death’- which is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.
If you are planning a trip away from home with your infant have you considered all the sleeping arrangements?
Babies need a safe, clean, and flat space to sleep in. If you are planning on bedsharing make sure you do so safely.
Consider asking for extra space and request a travel cot. Sleeping on sofas, in bed with parents or in bed with siblings can put your baby at higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Please visit the Lullaby Trust’s website for further safer sleeping advice https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/ [1]
According to UNICEF [2] On any night, 22% of babies will bed share – so 149,000 babies will be in bed with their parent tonight.
If you are #bedsharing remember the following
- Keep pets away from the bed you are sharing
- Separate the adult bedding and pillows from your baby
- Check the space – make sure your baby won’t get trapped or wedged between the mattress and the wall, or fall out of bed
- Do not share the bed with multiple children
Are you visiting friends or family? Have you thought about where your baby might sleep whilst you are away? Sometimes we overlook the obvious items we might need when we are staying “home-from-home”.
Check with your hosts that there is room for your baby to sleep safely whilst you are visiting.
Give your baby a clear, safe space to sleep; not in a bouncy chair, car seat or on a chair or sofa.
The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in a cot or moses basket in the same room as you – day or night
Give your baby a clear, safe space to sleep; not in a bouncy chair, car seat or on a chair or sofa.
Always monitor the temperature of the room and make sure your baby’s head is uncovered.
| Never share a bed or fall asleep anywhere with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, if you take drugs, or you’re a smoker as this increases the risk further. |
For more information visit the Lullaby Trust [3]
If you are a young parent or a soon-to-be parent, please see further information provided by The Little Lullaby Trust. [4]
We know that greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying. Sadly, around 4 babies a week still die from sudden infant death (SIDS). If all parents were aware of safer sleep advice many lives could be saved. Around 700,000 babies are born in the UK every year – we need to continue to reach out to all new parents with our safer sleep message.
How to reduce the risk of SIDS
- Place your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first 6 months.
- Don’t smoke during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
- Don’t share a bed with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, if you take drugs, or you’re a smoker.
- Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
- Don’t let your baby get too hot or cold.
- Keep your baby’s head uncovered. Their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders.
- Place your baby in the “feet to foot” position, with their feet at the end of the cot or moses basket.
- Keep pillows, sheets, blankets away from your baby or any other items that could obstruct your baby’s breathing or cause them to overheat. A high proportion of infants who die as a result of SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding.
[5]Sources of information and advice:
Lullaby Trust – Safer Sleep Advice [1]
Lift the baby – London Irish Rugby Club video for fathers/partners [6]
NHS advice [8]
Safer Sleep for Every Sleep Poster [9]
UNICEF [10]