Safer Sleep Week 2024

Safer Sleep Week (11th-17th March) 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 simple advice that reduces the risk of it occurring.

A greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying. Sadly around 3 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 so it is essential that parents are aware of safer sleep guidance.

The theme for this year’s Safer Sleep Week campaign is the safest place. Babies’ airways are vulnerable, particularly in the first few months of life, so it is important that parents and carers are aware of this and the actions they can take to protect them. 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 airways open and reduce the risk of suffocation and SIDS. A cot, Moses basket, bassinet, carry cot, or crib all fulfil these criteria.

Many baby products on the market are unsafe for babies to sleep in, even some which are designed for this purpose. The Lullaby Trust aims to empower parents with the knowledge to make informed choices about their baby’s sleeping place and understand why some products are unsafe for baby sleep and how to identify and avoid them. 

For more information, please click the link below:

https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/about-us/safer-sleep-week/