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It is every new parent's nightmare - waking up to find your previously happy and healthy baby dead in her cot.
The exact cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is unknown, but new guidance released shows a number of things parents could do to help protect their babies, particularly if they are premature or had a low birth rate.
Smoking e-cigarettes around babies, time spent in car seats and slings and the safety of co-sleeping twins have been addressed in the fresh guidelines.
Car seats - Always removing infants from car seats and placing them in Moses basket or cot at earliest convenience following the journey. When travelling on long journeys make regular stops and take the baby out of the car seat for breaks to ensure they are not in a semi-upright position for too long.
Slings - Making sure baby slings are secure with the baby in a position where they are visible to the parent. The adult should always be able to see their baby’s face by simply glancing down and be able to kiss their baby’s head by tipping their head forward. The baby must never be curled up so her chin is forced into her chest as this can restrict her breathing.
Twins - Parents should consider a few key points if deciding to put their twins in the same bed in the early weeks and months. These include only placing them side by side in a cot when they can’t roll over onto each other and making sure they are not close enough to touch and potentially obstruct each other’s breathing.
Place your baby on their back to sleep, in cot in the same room as you for their first six months Don’t smoke during pregnancy or breastfeeding and don’t let anybody else smoke around them Don’t share a bed with your baby if you’ve been drinking, taking 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 toe’ position (with their feet at the end of the cot or Moses basket)
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