Parents' cot death knowledge alarmingly low 

16 October 2002

Parents' knowledge on protecting babies from cot death alarmingly low

Bedding which covers a baby’s head poses a risk of cot death. The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths conducted a survey, sponsored by GrobagTM, on parents’ knowledge of bedding and other ways to protect babies from risk. The results are alarming:

• A third of parents surveyed did not know that sleeping on the back is best for babies. Yet, UK and international research clearly shows it is safest and healthiest for babies to sleep on their back, not their front or side.
• Over half the parents surveyed said a baby’s bedding should be left loose rather than tucked in. Tucking in the covers is associated with a significantly lower risk of cot death.
• Only 59% of parents knew what the ‘feet to foot’ position was. The Department of Health recommends babies sleep on their backs in the “feet to foot” position with their feet at the foot of the cot. This is to prevent the baby from wriggling down and getting their head covered by the bedding, which increases the risk of cot death.

Joyce Epstein, FSID’s Director said:
“On the back, feet to foot, free from the dangers of loose bedding - this is the safest way for babies to sleep. With seven babies still dying every single week, it is vitally important we continue working to hammer the ‘Reduce the risk of cot death’ message home with parents and carers. Any parent wanting to find out how to give their baby the chance of a lifetime can call FSID’s Helpline on 0870 787 0554“.

Rob Holmes, Grobag’s Managing director said:
“2000 babies were born today. One baby died as a cot death. Cot death is the leading cause of death in babies over one month old in the UK and is the worst tragedy a family could ever experience. We must use every opportunity to make sure parents understand how to reduce the risk of cot death for their babies –we must not become complacent which is why we are helping to promote the ‘reduce the risk message’ with every Grobag™ sold”.

Notes to editors:

1. The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) is the UK’s leading baby charity working to prevent sudden infant deaths and promote baby health. FSID achieves its aims by funding research, supporting bereaved families and promoting infant care advice to families and professionals. FSID and the Department of Health introduced the ‘Reduce the risk of cot death’ campaign in 1991 and the number of cot deaths has fallen by 70% since.
2. GrobagTM is the UK’s market leader in the manufacture and retail of baby sleeping bags. All GrobagTM sleeping bags meet FSID’s criteria that they should be lightweight, without a hood or sleeves. GrobagTM advises that parents should always use the appropriate size sleeping bag for their baby, that they should not be used for a baby under 10lbs, nor should they be used with a duvet. GrobagTM is working in partnership with FSID by offering the reduce the risk of cot death messages to their customers and contributing funds to safer sleeping research. See www.grobag.com for more information
3. The survey was carried out by Ipsos/Capibus in September and October 2002. Parents with babies aged under two were interviewed in their own home. The survey results come from a nationally representative base of 238 parents. See the attached fact sheet for further survey findings.
4. FSID runs a Helpline (0870 787 0554) for parents and professionals. Editors are encouraged to include this Helpline number with any reporting.
5. A fact sheet on the research behind the advice to keep babies free from loose bedding and further details on the survey is attached.

Interviews – it should be possible to arrange interviews with cot death parents, FSID and medical experts.

Images – cartoons and photos of babies sleeping in the ‘feet to foot’ position are available by contacting Sarah Kenyon on 0870 787 0885.

For more information:

Sarah Kenyon, FSID’s Communications manager 0870 787 0726 / 0870 787 0885 / 0787 67 44 754

Joyce Epstein, FSID’s Director 0870 787 0885 / 07904 198 552

 

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