New study reveals parents' baby products concerns 

30 April 2007

Embargoed until 00.01am May 1, 2007

Figures released today, 1 May 2007, by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) reveal that 1 in 5 parents who contacts FSID’s helpline is worried about sleeping equipment for their infant.

The study (1), conducted to mark the launch of FSID’s ‘Save a Baby’ campaign this month, monitored FSID’s helpline enquiries over a six-month period, from October 2006 to March 2007. The data shows that 20 per cent of parents and health professionals who contact the helpline have worries relating to sleeping equipment such as cots, bedding and mattresses. Common concerns also include where and in what position a baby should sleep (14 per cent). A wide range of other worries – such as the use of dummies, swaddling and movement (apnoea) monitors, and travelling with a baby – are reflected as well in calls to the helpline.

Despite the dramatic fall since 1991 in the rates for sudden infant death – commonly known as cot death – it remains the UK’s biggest killer of babies over one month old. FSID’s helpline receives up to 100 enquiries a week from parents and health professionals baffled by the many varieties of sleeping products available and safe infant care advice.

To help raise awareness, FSID is launching a new month-long ‘Save a Baby’ campaign, hoping to make sure that each and every parent of the 600,000+ babies born each year in the UK knows the positive steps they can take to reduce the risk of cot death. Parents seeking independent, proven safe sleep advice can call FSID’s helpline on 020 7233 2090 or visit www.fsid.org.uk

FSID’s top product advice tips for parents:
• Ideally you should buy a new mattress for each new baby. If not, check that it is firm and in good condition, not damaged in any way and cleaned thoroughly.
• Ventilated mattresses with holes are not recommended as it’s not possible to keep the inside clean.
• If your baby is under a year old, don’t use a duvet, quilt, pillow, electric blanket or hot water bottle.
• If you use a baby sleeping bag it needs to be without a hood, lightweight and the correct size around the neck so that your baby won’t slip down inside the bag. Never use with a duvet.
• Ensure your baby’s cot is in good condition. Check that the gaps between the bars are less than 6.5cm, and the space between the mattress and cot is no more than 4cm.
• If you use a Moses basket, it should only have a thin lining.
• Never sleep your baby on a pillow, cushion, beanbag or waterbed.
-ENDS-

Media contacts:
If you would like further information, or to arrange an interview with a bereaved parent or sudden infant death expert please call the FSID press office - Stacey Kerr on 020 7227 5210 or Nicola Peckett on 020 7227 5212.

Notes to editors:
(1) The study was carried out from October 2006 – March 2007 and monitored the subject of each enquiry received by FSID’s helpline. The top concerns were regarding baby sleeping products (for example, types of cot such as cribs, Moses baskets, regular cots and cotbeds; bedding such as blankets and baby sleeping bags; and mattresses); sleeping place (for example, which room a baby should sleep in; the risks associated with sharing a bed with a baby; and the dangers of sleeping on a sofa or in an armchair with a baby); and sleeping position (placing your baby to sleep on his or her back, rather than the front or side). Other enquiries related to bereavement, monitors, car seats, travelling, swaddling and dummies.


The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is the UK’s leading baby charity working to prevent infant sudden deaths and promote infant health. The UK’s cot death rate has fallen by 75% since we launched the campaign to reduce the risk of cot death in 1991, and we estimate that 25,000 babies’ lives have been saved. Despite this success, cot death remains the biggest killer of babies over one month old. FSID funds research (nearly £10 million to date), supports bereaved families, promotes baby care advice, and works to improve investigations when a baby dies.

A number of manufacturers and retailers such as Grobag and Babies “R” Us have committed to promoting FSID’s safe sleeping advice. If you would like to arrange an interview with a company about why they support the campaign, please call the FSID press office. These manufacturers are supporting Save a Baby Month, and have donated products to an online giveaway. Parents should visit www.fsid.org.uk for more details.

FSID’s helpline operates from 9am – 11pm Monday – Friday, and 6pm – 11pm weekends and bank holidays.

 

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