Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 24 April 2024 at 00:33
This year, The Lullaby Trust will once again be running a Safer Sleeping Week from the 15th – 21st March 2021.
Safer Sleep Week is The Lullaby Trust’s national awareness campaign targeting anyone looking after a young baby. It aims to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the safer sleep advice that reduces the risk of this occurring.
We know that greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying. Sadly, around 4 babies a week still die from SIDS and if all parents were aware of safer sleep advice, many lives could be saved. Around 700,000 babies are born every year in the UK and we need to continue to reach out to all new parents with our safer sleep message.
In 2021, the focus is on Dads. Dads often have a key role in the care of their baby, in some cases they are the primary carer. It is therefore crucial they understand how to reduce the risk of SIDS and make sure their baby sleeps safely.
Figures suggest that Dads are not engaging with this information in the same way as Mums. Through the campaign, the Lullaby Trust will work with Dads to better understand how to reach them and deliver information in a way that will be helpful. The Lullaby Trust want all parents to understand SIDS and to feel confident that they are able to reduce the risk for their child.
As professionals, please see – A guide for professionals for helpful advice on what you should be aware of when assessing babies, especially in their rooms, and what advice you should offer to parents.
Where concerns are identified, parents can be signposted to The Lullaby Trust website. Professionals may contact the family’s GP practice for smoking cessation support or signpost to local services via MiDoS. To arrange a visit to the home by the Health Visitor or Midwife, please check the child's red book for contact details or contact the parent’s GP practice.
Safeguarding concerns should be referred via the Trust’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
Further information is also available on The Lullaby Trust’s website in relation to many other questions you may have about safer sleeping.
Published 18th March 2021