Health Visitors Support Safer Sleep Week

Health Visitors are supporting Safer Sleep Week, the National Awareness campaign run by The Lullaby Trust from March 14 until March 20. 

The week aims to raise awareness of safer sleep and how to reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Lincolnshire Community Healths Services NHS Trust (LCHS) are supporting the campaign by continuing to promote good practice when it comes to the importance of safer sleep.

Cathy Curchill, Operational Lead and Health Visitor at LCHS said: "As Health Visitors, we see new mums on a daily basis and always stress the importance of safe sleeping with their babies. It is important to be aware of circumstances which can be dangerous such as; if you or your partner smoke, have drunk alcohol or taken drugs which includes medications that make you drowsy. It is vital that parents are informed on how to minimise the risks."

"The Lullaby Trust offers a list of useful tips on their website for safer sleep including:

* Always place your baby on their back to sleep
* Keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
* Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you      for the first 6 months
* Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
* Keep cots clean and clear this includes not using cot bumpers as they are known to        cause overheating of baby and pose a real risk of strangulation if they come undone      and your baby can get tangled in them and toys can provide a choking hazard.

"We also have a health visiting website which has lots of great information on a variety of topics including sleep behaviour, infant feeding, starting solids and much more visit www.lincolnshirehealthyfamilies.nhs.uk/healthvisiting"

For more information on Safer Sleep Week please visit: www.lullabytrust.org.uk