Safer Sleep Week – The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust’s campaign ‘Safer Sleep Week’ aims to raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and provides advice to anyone looking after a young baby on how to reduce the risk. The Trust also offer emotional support to families affected by SIDS. Every week, 3 babies die from SIDS, and so providing parents with safer sleep advice could save the lives of children.
The theme for this year is co-sleeping. According to recent research, over 3000 parents sometimes co-sleep with their children. The safest way for a baby to sleep is in a clear and flat space, away from others. Cots filled with toys and blankets may look nice, but they are not the safest environment for children to sleep in.
Practitioners should follow the latest government safety guidance when placing down children to sleep. The Early Years Foundation Stage states that sleeping children should be frequently checked to confirm that they are safe. Sleep checks should be recorded and completed every 5-10 minutes. During this sleep check, practitioners should check the temperature of the room, that the child is breathing, and if the sleep position has changed. The practitioner should ensure that the cots/ bedding are in good condition and suited to the age of the child. It may also be useful for practitioners to talk to parents to become familiar with their sleep routine at home.
Tops Tips for Safer Sleep:
- Ensure the baby is not too hot – use lightweight blankets, remove any thick clothing, and ensure that the room is well-ventilated.
- Do not cover the baby’s face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding.
- Do not give the baby a pillow.
- Babies should not have anything soft around their heads while sleeping.
- Place babies on their back to sleep.
For more information, visit the Lullaby Trust’s website – https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/