Cot deaths more likely for isolated young mums
26 August 2009
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, (FSID), the UK’s leading cot death charity, welcomes today’s report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which shows a drop in cot deaths in 2007, but is concerned to see that young, single mums are still more likely to suffer a cot death than other mothers.
Over 300 babies continue to die every year in the UK, for no known reason*.
The risk for young mothers, living alone, remains unacceptably high, showing that FSID’s recent work targeting pregnant teenagers and young parents is vital.
Joyce Epstein, Director of FSID, said: “This decrease is great news and hopefully shows that we are successfully reaching parents on how to reduce the risk of cot death.
“Nevertheless, these figures reveal that single mums, especially those under 20, are four times more likely to have a cot death than mothers over 24**.
“This is why FSID has developed a new social networking site exclusively for young parents www.bubbalicious.org.uk *** which will help mothers, who find themselves alone, to access support and safe sleep advice.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
* In 2007 305 babies died in the UK as a cot death. The figure omits the numbers of deaths in England and Wales in babies over one year of age, which are not yet available.
** Rate of deaths per 1000 live births for mothers under 20 years of age in England and Wales: 1.12. For mothers over 24 years: 0.25.
*** Bubbalicious offers health advice to pregnant teenagers and new teenage mothers/dads. The advice is packaged in an age appropriate format –in a friendly, familiar and vibrant online magazine/social networking site. The official launch is on 24 September. If you would like to know more please contact FSID’s press team (see below)
For more information please contact Louisa Mullan press and campaigns manager T: 020 7227 5212 E:louisa.mullan@fsid.org.uk or Sara GreenCommunicationsOfficer T: 020 7801 3225 E: sara.green@fsid.org.uk
About FSID
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is the UK’s leading baby charity working to prevent sudden deaths and promote infant health. FSID funds research (nearly £10 million to date), supports bereaved families, promotes baby care advice, and works to improve investigations when a baby dies.
FSID has a freephone helpline 0808 802 6868 for parents and professionals seeking advice on safe baby care. The Helpline also supports bereaved families. Advice for parents and professionals can also be found at www.fsid.org.uk
Advice for parents to reduce the risk of cot death:
· Cut smoking in pregnancy – fathers too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
· Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side).
· Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered.
· Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers or use a baby sleep bag
· Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
· The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months.
· It’s especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed
if you (or your partner):
· are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed or at home
· have been drinking alcohol
· take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
· feel very tired;
or if your baby:
· was born before 37 weeks
· weighed less than 2.5kg or 5½ lbs at birth
· Don’t forget, accidents can happen: you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby; or your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured.
· Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep.
· Breastfeed your baby. Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy.