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Babies, bumps n kids

Reducing the risk of cot death

  Also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a rare event which usually affects babies aged 1 to 5 months.  It is not fully understood why cot death occurs and there are no ways to definitely prevent it, but research has shown that the risk can be greatly reduced by taking a few simple precautions...

Sleeping Position

Babies should be laid on either on their backs (preferably) or on their sides with their lower arm forward to stop them rolling over.  Research has shown that cot death is more common in babies that sleep on their tummy.  This is only an important factor until they are older and able to turn themselves over in their sleep; it is then safe to let them sleep in whatever position they prefer.  There is also no evidence that babies are at risk from choking if laid on their backs.  Babies should also be placed with their feet to the foot of the cot with covers no higher than their shoulders to avoid them wriggling under.

Temperature

 

Babies need to be kept warm but should not be allowed to get over-heated.  The baby's room should be kept at a comfortable temperature of 16 - 20 degrees C.  Lightweight blankets should be used instead of duvets, sleeping bags or baby nests which can easily become too warm and can cover a baby's head.  Babies cannot control their body temperature very well until 2 - 3 months old and are not able to throw off unwanted bed clothes like older children when they become too hot.

The effectiveness of clothing is assessed by estimating a "tog value".  The higher the tog unit, the harder it is for heat to escape through the clothing.  In a room temperature of 16 - 20 deg C, a baby should be clothed in no more than 10 - 12 tog units with the head uncovered.

Tog Table

Baby clothing and bedding     Tog Value

Vest                                0.2

Babygro                            1

Jumper                             2

Cardigan                          2

Trousers                          2

Nappy (disposable)       2 (less when wet)

Sleepsuit                          4

Sheet                             0.2

Old blanket                  1.5

New blanket                   2

Quilts                              Typically 9 (see manufacturers figures)

Please note:
The total tog value is the sum of the individual tog values of the layers.
Remember that swaddling may more than treble the tog value of the item of bedding which swaddles the baby.

Smoking

Keep babies away from cigarette smoke.  Research shows that babies exposed to smoking are at more risk of cot death.  Smoking in pregnancy also increses the risk of cot death.


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