Midwives, Maternity Support Workers, health visitors, Neonatal Nurses and Public Health teams across the Black Country are highlighting an important campaign to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Safer Sleep Week, which runs from today (Monday 9 March) to Sunday 15 March and is a Lullaby Trust campaign, is supported by the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BC LMNS). This year’s theme is “Keep it simple to keep it safe” and focuses on reminding parents of the essential items a baby needs at a time when there are so many products being advertised or featured.
Debra Hickman, Chair of the LMNS Neonatal Partnership Board, said: “We’ve all seen social media pictures or adverts showing lots of products – anything from cot bumpers to pods or nests, wedges, or straps that claim to keep baby in one sleeping position.
“The advice is to keep the cot clear as evidence tells us evidence to babies are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if they have their heads covered, and some items added to a cot may increase the risk of this happening. Non-essential items in a cot, such as bumpers and toys, can also increase the risk of accidents.
“New parents can feel a little bombarded with adverts and offers for baby items, and overwhelmed, plus social media can also play a part with celebrities talking about or showing products they are using or advertising. Many of these items are expensive too and parents don’t need this pressure.
“Babies need to be loved, safe, and fed above all else and this week reminds us of all of what is essential for their wellbeing.”
BC LMNS works with the Black Country Child Death Review Strategic Partnership (BCCDRSP) to reduce the number of baby deaths in the area where unsafe sleeping habits have been identified.
An ideal temperature where babies sleep is 16-20 degrees and is among the top tips for safer sleeping for babies under a year old. Others are:
- No pillows or duvets
- No cot bumpers
- No soft toys or comforters
- No weighted or bulky bedding
- No products designed to keep your baby in one sleeping position, such as wedges or straps
- No pods or nests, rolled up towels or anything soft placed on top of the mattress.
The Lullaby Trust website has details of how to Keep it simple to keep it safe and parents can also visit the ICB’s helpful website for 0-18 years ICB – 0-18 years