Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) remains a tragic and preventable cause of infant mortality. As safeguarding professionals, you play a vital role in supporting families to reduce the risks associated with unsafe sleep environments.
When working with parents and carers with babies it is important to share this advice from The Lullaby Trust. By following this advice for every sleep, day and night, you can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
If parents/carers have questions, they can talk to their midwife or health visitor who can help with sleep safety, quitting smoking, and more. Further information can be found through the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service.
Some parents choose to share a bed with their babies, while others sometimes fall asleep with their baby without meaning to. When working with families, follow the advice from The Lullaby Trust to ensure parents and carers reduce the risks of co-sleeping and help keep their baby safer while they sleep.
There are some occasions when it can be particularly dangerous, especially if:
The Lullaby Trust have further information about co-sleeping.
Remember the safest place for a baby to sleep is always is in their own clear, flat, firm separate sleep space (e.g. a cot or Moses basket) in the same room as their parent.