Sutton Health Visitors promote safe sleep practices during national campaign
As part of the national Safer Sleep Week (11-17 March 2024), Sutton's dedicated health visitors reached over 100 parents and carers at the St Nicholas Centre, Sutton, providing crucial advice on creating a safer sleep environment for their babies.
Safer Sleep Week (11 – 17 March 2024) is a national awareness campaign by The Lullaby Trust targeting anyone looking after a young baby. It aims to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and equip parents and carers with information about how to reduce the risk.
The simplest way to do this is by sleeping a baby on their back on a firm, flat surface with no padded or cushioned areas. This will help to keep their airway open and reduce the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Suitable options include cots, Moses baskets, bassinets, carry cots, and cribs.
"This vital campaign from The Lullaby Trust empowers parents and carers with the knowledge to create safe sleep spaces for their babies," says Beth Wilson, Head of Children's Services at Sutton Health and Care. "We want families to feel confident about choosing safe sleep practices, especially in vulnerable or emergency situations or when a cot or Moses basket isn't readily available."
The advice is based on strong scientific evidence and should be followed for all sleep periods, not just at night. Following safer sleep advice has demonstrably saved lives, with SIDS deaths decreasing by 81% in the last 30 years.
The Health Visiting Team remains available to provide information and advice on creating a safe sleep environment for your baby, helping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related accidents. Visit https://www.suttonhealthandcare.nhs.uk/health-visiting for details.