Nursery World - Give parents SID Smessage

By Caroline Emery, a health visitor and vocational tutor from Alton, Hampshire who trains nursery nurses Dr Bruce Beckwith defined Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in 1969 as 'the sudden death of an infant or young child which is unexplained by history and in which a thorough post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death'.

Dr Bruce Beckwith defined Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in 1969 as 'the sudden death of an infant or young child which is unexplained by history and in which a thorough post-mortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death'.

The Department of Health recommends six key messages for parents and carers to help prevent SIDS. These are: Place a baby on its back to sleep; keep baby's head uncovered and place the baby in the 'feet to foot' position; do not let the baby get too hot; If the baby is unwell, seek medical advice promptly; cut out smoking in pregnancy (by fathers too!); do not let anyone smoke in the same room as the baby.

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