Know the Risks and Help Reduce Sudden Infant Deaths

The local Safeguarding Children Boards of Hull and East Riding have joined forces with local campaigner Louise Barrett to highlight the risks associated with co-sleeping this winter.

 

Infant deaths associated with co-sleeping appear to rise across the UK over the winter months*, and Child Death Overview Panels in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire want to emphasise the key risks to parents to help reduce infant deaths where co-sleeping may be a contributory factor. Awareness-raising campaigns elsewhere in the UK around unsafe sleeping environments have significantly reduced numbers of unexplained infant deaths.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) has identified key risk factors associated with co-sleeping if the parent or carer:
•    is a smoker, even if they never smoke in bed or in the home;
•    has been drinking alcohol;
•    has taken medication or drugs that make them drowsy; or
•    feels very tired.
Or if the baby:
•    was low birth weight (less than 2.5kgs or 5 ½ lbs); or
•    was premature (born before 37 weeks gestation).
(Co-sleeping describes a baby sharing their parent’s bed, or sleeping with a parent on a sofa or chair. A parent represents anyone caring for the baby.)

FSID has stated that parents and carers should be advised never to sleep with a baby on a sofa or in an armchair, and they should be reminded that accidents can happen: parents might roll over in their sleep and suffocate their baby, or the baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of the bed and be injured

East Riding resident Louise Barratt who lost a baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is an active campaigner and fundraiser for FSID. Events organised by Louise and her supporters have helped keep the issue at the forefront for new parents.

Louise comments: “I am delighted that the Safeguarding Children Boards in the East Riding and Hull are highlighting the risk of cot death with their Infant Safe Sleeping Campaign.

“I have been involved with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death since I lost my own son Ellis 7 years ago. I have supported FSID with fundraising and awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of co-sleeping with babies.

The Infant Safe Sleeping Campaign brings the message to many people and hopefully if it saves just one life then it will have all been worthwhile.”

“The message is clear – please let your baby sleep safely, in a cot or a crib in a room with you for the first six months, and follow other safe sleeping advice given to you by your midwife or health visitor as they are the specialists.”

Dr Mary Barraclough, Consultant Paediatrician and Designated Paediatrician for Child Deaths across Hull and the East Riding, commented: “Some parents may not be aware that co-sleeping with their baby in a bed may increase the possibility of infant death, especially if they are in the “at risk” group identified by FSID.

“We want to raise awareness of the risks of co-sleeping and to promote infant safe sleeping.  There has been a lot of research into the possible causes of sudden infant deaths over the years, and FSID recommend that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot or a crib, in the parent’s room for the first 6 months of life”.

The campaign will see health professionals working closely with Children’s Centre’s, and in baby clinics in the region to ensure the messages are reaching the relevant people. Infant Safe Sleeping Guidelines for NHS Hull, NHS East Riding of Yorkshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals have been developed to support health practitioners.

Local Suzanne Firth did her bit to help raise awareness of the charity FSID

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