Positive Relationships: A parent's guide to ... cot death

Cot death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason. The post mortem examination may explain some deaths. Those that remain unexplained after a post mortem examination may be registered as 'cot death', 'unascertained' or the more technical term 'sudden infant death syndrome' (SIDS).

Q: How many cot deaths are there?

The latest figures show there are more than 300 cot deaths each year in the UK. This is greater than the number of babies who die from meningitis, road traffic accidents, leukaemia or any form of cancer

Q: What can I do to reduce the risk of cot death?

Try to remember that cot death is rare and that if you follow the advice below, you will be reducing the risk considerably:

- Put your baby down to sleep on the back and not on the front or side. Place your baby in a cot with their feet right against the foot of it, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers. Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.

- Don't smoke. Cut out smoking in pregnancy - fathers too - and don't let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.

Q: How warm should the room be?

Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby's head uncovered. The room where your baby sleeps should be between 16 degs and 20 degsC. It might be freezing outside, but you need to think about the temperature inside your house, and most importantly, look at and touch your baby to check if she feels too warm or cold. Remember that hands and feet are often cool and that's normal, so feel the main part of her body around her tummy or back of her neck.

If the room is between 16 degs and 20 degsC, your baby should be comfortable wearing a nappy, vest, cotton sleepsuit, sheet and one or two blankets. Remember that a folded blanket counts as two blankets. Tuck sheets and blankets in firmly around the mattress.

Q: I would really like to bring my baby into bed with me - is this safe?

It's fine to take your baby into bed with you for a feed or a cuddle, but when you are ready to go to sleep, put her back in her cot. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or a cot in a room with you for the first six months.

It's especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed if you (or your partner): are a smoker, have been drinking alcohol, have taken medication or drugs that make you drowsy, or if either of you feel very tired. It is also particularly dangerous to share a bed if your baby was born before 37 weeks or weighed less than 2.5kg or 5 1/2lbs at birth.

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 roll out of bed and be injured.

Q: I've heard that dummies reduce the risk of cot death, is that true?

Yes. Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy has been found to halve the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep. Breastfeeding your baby also reduces the risk. Establish breastfeeding before you start to give your baby a dummy.

Q: Is it ok for my baby to play on their front?

Absolutely. Babies should have plenty of time playing on their tummy, but supervise them carefully to make sure they don't fall asleep.

Further information

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is the UK's leading cot death charity and has lots of information and advice for new parents. Their helpline is open every weekday between 9am and 11pm and on the weekends between 6pm and 9pm.

Call 020 7233 2090 or e-mail helpline@fsid.org.uk. You can also order a room thermometer or a free copy of FSID's Babyzone leaflet, which goes into greater detail about infant care. Visit www.fsid.org.uk for more information.