55% of parents unaware of safe sleep for babies??

[TinfoilHattie]

Woman talking about sudden infant death on BBC just said that 55% of parents are unaware of the very basics of safe sleeping for newborns - sleeping on their back, in a clear cot. They also mentioned things like not covering their heads and only sleeping in bed with you if you're not drunk but that's not the 55% thing - just the very basics of sleeping on their backs without loads of clutter around them.

Where are all these people who do not know this? I had my first in 2003 and it was drummed into me, several times. Anne Diamond has been campaigning on putting babies on their back for about 25 years, and very effectively too.

Rubbish statistic, or are parents really so ignorant?

Yes lala - and they sleep better warmer as well.

Basically most of the safe sleep advice is to avoid them getting too deeply asleep.

I heard a report on radio 5 and it sounded like she'd said babies shouldn't be put to sleep on their backs. Now if she's read it wrong and someone has heard that in passing no wonder some parents still don't know that alone, feet to foot on their back in a cot is the safest way.

Tinfoil - I agree with your post in general but actually knitted blankets are not a good idea if they have holes in them as fingers can get trapped in them and blood supply cut off overnight. Yes a naked cot is best even zero toys is best avoided.

The only information I was given about safe sleeping was "do not cosleep. Cosleeping kills babies it is very very dangerous" DD is just 4 months and having talked about it at baby groups it seems to be a very sensitive subject and quite a few of the women I've spoke to will admit to cosleeping and say that they were upset at not being able to ask their HVs for advice about doing it safely because of this massive anti-cosleep campaign that seems to be happening in our area.

I also had to explain why cot bumpers are an issue, quite a few people said that they had them to prevent their babies banging their heads on the bars.

And don't get me started on bloody prams for newborns where they can not lie flat.

My skin crawls when I see babies in car seats clicked into a pram frame. Just dreadful.

Also people not realising that having them sleep in Your room for 6 months is so much safer and they think a monitor in their own room is the same.

The reason why is that the baby (and everybody!) has a lighter sleep when they are in with you as the baby hears you both breathe and move and it keeps them from going into such a deep sleep.

Of course everyone's quality of sleep is affected but that is why it is so much safer.

A lot of people don't listen to advice and they don't read the leaflets, or parenting books, or any of that stuff.
A lot of people do what their families have always done, be that using the same cot for every baby, on their front, under duvets and cot bumpers....to weaning at 8 weeks or putting rusks in bottles or whatever.

Honestly you'd be amazed by the amount of people who know little and care even less about current advice or guidelines.

I agree, my nephew slept in his own room straight away, on his front etc because that's what our mum did with us. My sister did everything my mum said including early weaning etc even though my sister was educated with a health sciences degree. My mum judges my parenting massively and thinks I have spoilt children because they don't have a bedtime until 6 months, sleep in my room, are ebf, weaned at 6 months etc.

Thank goodness we've got rid of the spare bed when sorting the new baby's room so she has to stay in a hotel when this baby is born so I don't have to listen to the 'you'll sleep much better if you put your 2 day old in their own room' speeches!!

quite a few of the women I've spoke to will admit to cosleeping and say that they were upset at not being able to ask their HVs for advice about doing it safely because of this massive anti-cosleep campaign that seems to be happening in our area.

This absolutely enrages me. In my opinion the decisions to not explain safe co-sleeping, and similarly to refuse to discuss formula feeding, actually puts babies in danger because people end up googling information, or winging it.

The guidelines on FF'ing have changed since I had my twins and it's only because of places like MN and other friends that I know why. It's so easy to see why people would think it was ok to just keep going in the old way.

Some countries, like Japan, don't even have a word for cot death because it's so rare, yet they co-sleep. I hear so many people say "I'd love to co-sleep, but DH sleeps too heavily" which suggests to me that even the basics of safe co-sleeping (baby between Mum and edge) aren't getting out to people, which is just stupid and is actually letting babies down imo. Equip parents with ALL of the knowledge and then let them make informed decisions.

I can definitely see it being 55%. I expect everyone knows babies should be on their back, but when it comes to things like cot bumpers, loose bedding, toys in crib I bet many people have at least one blind spot.

Plus I'd assume everyone who co-sleeps got included in the 55% even if they know perfectly well how a baby should sleep in a cot.

Foot to the bottom of the cot is so they cannot slip down under the covers so if they wear a grobag or sleep without a blanket they can sleep anywhere in the cot safely my 9 month old DS sleeps in his grobag at the very head of his cot,I put him to the middle but he now worms his way to the top only stopping when his head rests against his headboard Also there are such things as breathable mesh cot bumpers,my DS got his leg stuck in his cot between the bars the second night in his cot and woke absolutely screaming in pain so he now has these air wraps they are called. They do not impede your breathing whatsoever even when doubled over and pressed tightly over your nose and mouth as I checked myself before putting them on this is from a PFB mum with pretty significant anxiety about SUDI he's only just gone into his room at 8 months as he totally outgrew his Chicco side sleeper.

What I find so hard to fathom is that many many people move very young babies into their own room when the NHS guidelines about room sharing until 6 months are quite clear . . . The co sleeping info seems to be a bit better now in terms of advice on how to do it safely but that may have made it less clear (I think a ban on recommending it is stupid because it's totally impractical to not co sleep for many and the evidence suggests if done safely it protects against SIDS)

Lala I've never heard that advice that the safest place to co-sleep is between mum and edge. How do you stop baby falling out?

Definitely something to be said for giving parents full knowledge rather than relying on the internet or grannies out of date advice.

I think all of my nct group knew not to let our DV sleep on their fronts, but a couple used cot bumpers, I think. And we started letting DS sleep on his front at about 3 months because he had terrible reflux and it made him more comfortable - we used a breathing monitor but we're aware it wasn't ideal.

Bread I'm guessing part of the reason people move babies into their own rooms early is space or lack of it. Many modern bedrooms would be lucky to house a Moses basket and the second baby out grows it baby needs a cot and into their own room they go.

I know the safe sleeping stuff I just don't follow it. Maybe my next baby will be the mythical baby that sleeps on its back in its own cot ...

MrE if my baby couldn't fit in the room with me if she grew out of Moses basket/ crib I would either move furniture so the cot fitted in my room or I'd put a single mattress in the baby's room next to the cot. I have friends who did this because they didn't have the room.

I can't believe so many people don't know safe sleeping guidlines. The advice changed in the early 90s to the current guidelines and this let to a dramatic drop in the number of SIDS. I do know that many choose to ignore the advice citing reasons such as 'well I was put to sleep on my front and I survived.'

Please, please follow the advice. Nothing will completely remove the risk of unexplained death, but if the worst does happen, at least you won't blame yourself for not following the advice.

Today 20:35 MrEBear

Lala I've never heard that advice that the safest place to co-sleep is between mum and edge. How do you stop baby falling out?

By either having a wooden cotside that attaches snugly to the side of the bed or using a co-sleeping cot as bed guard.

We have similar but on my side of a super king sized bed.

My db & sil used to lay my nephew down to sleep on his stomach on top of and surrounded by fleecy blankets. It made my teeth itch. But they also used to make his formula with cold water and leave 4 bottles by the bed for over night feeds

But what exactly are you supposed to do when your baby keeps rolling over onto their front.
3yo DTs both tummy sleepers since they were 5 mo

I believe that if they are able to roll over on their own then they are fine as they are strong enough to lift their head, move to a comfortable sleeping position etc.

Did anyone watch The Replacement last week? Newborn placed on a pillow at the head of a cot with bumpers, in what looked like it's own bedroom, with loose blankets. It was like Unsafe Sleeping Bingo.

somethingborrowed when they roll over themselves it's considered ok to leave them. My 7.5 mo has been sleeping on his side or front since about 6m. We place him on his back to sleep and he then makes himself comfortable.