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It is essential that all professionals in touch with parents and visiting the family home make sure that the messages are understood by them, and do not assume that someone else has already offered leaflets or other materials. Safer Sleep for Baby focuses on six easy to follow steps which you can follow any time you put your baby down to sleep. Step 1 - Keep baby away from smoke, before and after birth. If either you or your partner smokes, never share a bed with your baby. Step 2 - Put baby in a cot, crib or Moses basket to sleep. Never fall asleep with baby on a sofa or chair; this can increase the risk of death by 50%. Step 3 -Never fall asleep with baby after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, including medications that may make you drowsy. Step 4 - Put baby to sleep on their back with their feet to the foot of the cot. Step 5 - Keep baby's head and face uncovered and make sure they don't get too hot. The room they sleep in should be between 16-20 degrees celsius. Step 6 - Breastfeed your baby. Support is available if you need it. Further information on Safer Sleeping |
There is no advice that guarantees the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC) but parents should be informed that, by following the safer sleep advice, it is possible to significantly lower the chance of this tragedy occurring.|
ICON: Babies Cry, You Can Cope! – provides key messages and resources to let parents and carers know that infant crying is normal and there are methods which can be taken in order to cope. Resources include leaflets, posters and video clips which can be shared with parents and carers at any contact had with midwives, health visitors, GPs, social workers, and other professionals working with families. The ICON key messages are: |
Resources are available on:
Remember – keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility, make every contact count and share safer sleeping and ICON messages with the families you work with.