Health visitors share safe sleeping advice for parents

Following a reported rise in the number of cot deaths in Yorkshire and Humberside, health visitors from Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust have been sharing the advice they give to parents about safe sleeping for babies.

Things you can do:

• always place your baby on their back to sleep
• keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
• place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months
• breastfeed your baby
• use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition

Things to avoid:

• never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
• don’t sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth-weight
• avoid letting your baby get too hot
• don’t cover your baby’s face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding

Yorkshire and Humberside also has higher rates than the rest of the country for mothers smoking during pregnancy, which can increase the risk of cot death. For support becoming smoke free during and after pregnancy, visit Yorkshire Smokefree.