Reducing the risks of Sudden Unexpected Death in the home

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is where an apparently healthy baby dies without warning and for no apparent reason.  In more than half cases initially thought to be SIDS a health condition, illness or accident is found to be the cause.

In Australia in 2013 there were 117 Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Childhood Heidi sleeping3 - mochabeing 0.4% per 1,000 births, with 54 of these being ruled SIDS deaths, which is 46% of SUDIs.  In 2013, in England and Wales there were 249 unexplained deaths, a rate of 0.36 deaths per 1,000 live births. This was the first rise in unexplained infant deaths in England and Wales since 2008.  Almost 65% of these deaths were recorded as SIDS deaths.  These statistics have further pushed SIDS and KIDS (Australia) and the Lullaby Trust (United Kingdom) to educate parents about the risks of SIDS and the important factors to look out for. It’s important to note that there is no fail safe method to prevent SIDS however, there are a number of things you can do to keep your bub safe and reduce the risk of SIDS.

The Lullaby Trust and SIDS& KIDS recommend the following for safe sleep:

  1. Sleep baby on their back from birth. Avoid letting them sleep on their tummy or side
  2. Make sure baby sleeps with their head and face uncovered
  3. Keep baby in a smoke free environment at all times
  4. Ensure baby has a safe sleeping environment whether it is for day-time naps or night-time sleeps – safe cot, firm mattress, no doonas, duvets, quilts, pillows, bumpers or soft toys.
  5. If possible, breastfeed baby

Cot Safety:

Although we may love lots of warm and cosy blankets for ourselves
this poses a huge risk to babies. Dressing baby appropriately for the temperature of their room over their pyjamas, swaddles or baby sleeping bags is enough to keep bub warm overnight. Refer to our temperature guide (Joey Pouch Guide and/or Joey Swag Guide) for guidance about what to wear.

  1. Making sure your baby has a safe cot is the first step to ensuring that baby is safe during sleep-time. In Australia, all cots must meet the current standards (and carry a label) stating compliance with AS/NZ 2172.
  2. A safe mattress is one that is the correct size for the cot, it is firm, flat and clean. Baby can get wedged between the cot and the mattress if gaps are present as such gaps should be no more than 20mm. It’s recommended to not use second hand cot mattresses.  Also ensure you have a waterproof mattress cover which is not torn and fits the cot correctly.
  3. Remove all pillows, doonas, loose bedding, lamb’s wool with a pile, bumpers and soft toys from the cot.
  4. If you wrap your  baby, consider baby’s stage of development when purchasing a swaddle product. Once your baby can roll from their back to their tummy you will need stop swaddling You can now introduce a baby sleeping bagAlternatively, you can transition baby out of swaddling before your baby rolls by using the Bubbaroo transitional swaddle called the Joey Pod.

Safe Sleeping Places:

Making sure that your bub is getting a sound and safe sleep is important. The 6 points below can help ensure your bub has a safe and sound sleep:

  1. Never leave bub unattended in an adult bed or bunk bed
  2. Waterbeds, beanbags, couches, pillows and cushions are not safe sleeping areas for bubs
  3. Avoid falling asleep with bub on the couch or in a chair
  4. Make sure your bub’s cot is away from blinds and curtains– these can be choking hazard
  5. Keep all heaters and electrical appliances away from the cot
  6. Never use electric blankets or a hot water bottle with a baby

Alessia asleep - Blue PouchThe Joey Pouch Swaddling Wrap,  Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle and the Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bag have been designed around the SIDS & Kids and The Lullaby Trust Foundations safe sleeping guidelines. You can read more about safe sleep at https://www.sidsandkids.org and https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk

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