Babies sleep safest in own cot.
But many mothers sceptical .
Half of all unexpected infant deaths occur when babies are sleeping with adults, according to research carried out at Bristol University.
The latest findings, published online today in the British Medical Journal, confirm that "the safest place for a baby to sleep is in its own cot."
Another study, funded by The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), found that a quarter of mothers don't believe that bed sharing increases the risk of cot death.
Joyce Epstein, director of FSID, said: "Since 2000 FSID and the Department of Health have been advising parents to sleep their babies in a separate cot in a room with them, and we are pleased that the most up-to-date research confirms that this advice is correct."
"But the survey results are alarming. We know that those at greatest risk of experiencing a cot death are very young mums, often single, and still in their teens, and this group is the most likely to reject safe sleep advice."
Please see the next page of this article for advice on reducing the risk of cot death.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) has issued this advice for parents to help reduce the risk of cot death:
Cut smoking in pregnancy (fathers too!) and don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby
Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side)
Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered
Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers or use a baby sleep bag
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair
The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months
Don’t forget, accidents can happen: you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby; or your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured
Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep
Breastfeed your baby. Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy
It's especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed if you (or your partner):
Are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed or at home
Have been drinking alcohol
Take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
Feel very tired;
Or if your baby:
Was born before 37 weeks
Weighed less than 2.5kg or 5½ lbs at birth
For more information please visit www.fsid.org.uk
This article was published on Wed 14 October 2009Image © Nixie - Fotolia.com
Half of all unexpected infant deaths occur when babies are sleeping with adults, according to research carried out at Bristol University.
The latest findings, published online today in the British Medical Journal, confirm that "the safest place for a baby to sleep is in its own cot."
Another study, funded by The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), found that a quarter of mothers don't believe that bed sharing increases the risk of cot death.
Joyce Epstein, director of FSID, said: "Since 2000 FSID and the Department of Health have been advising parents to sleep their babies in a separate cot in a room with them, and we are pleased that the most up-to-date research confirms that this advice is correct."
"But the survey results are alarming. We know that those at greatest risk of experiencing a cot death are very young mums, often single, and still in their teens, and this group is the most likely to reject safe sleep advice."
Please see the next page of this article for advice on reducing the risk of cot death.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) has issued this advice for parents to help reduce the risk of cot death:
Cut smoking in pregnancy (fathers too!) and don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby
Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side)
Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered
Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers or use a baby sleep bag
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair
The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months
Don’t forget, accidents can happen: you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby; or your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured
Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep
Breastfeed your baby. Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy
It's especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed if you (or your partner):
Are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed or at home
Have been drinking alcohol
Take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
Feel very tired;
Or if your baby:
Was born before 37 weeks
Weighed less than 2.5kg or 5½ lbs at birth
For more information please visit www.fsid.org.uk
This article was published on Wed 14 October 2009Image © Nixie - Fotolia.com
Reference:http://www.TheFamilyGP.com
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