Cornwall Families Urged to Follow Safer Sleep Advice for Babies

Cornwall Parents Urged to Follow Six Sleep Tips That Could Save a Baby’s Life

Families across Cornwall are being urged to follow simple but important advice to help keep babies safe while they sleep.

The message comes as part of Safer Sleep Week, taking place this week and led nationally by the Lullaby Trust charity. The campaign focuses on helping parents and carers create safer sleeping environments for babies in an effort to reduce deaths linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Eight deaths in Cornwall since 2024 linked to unsafe sleep environments

Nationally, around 200 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. However, many of these deaths may have been prevented by following evidence based safer sleep guidance.

In Cornwall, eight babies have died since 2024 where unsafe sleeping environments have been identified as a factor.

Six key pieces of safer sleep advice

The Lullaby Trust has shared six key pieces of advice for families to follow:

• Lie your baby on their back..

• Keep their cot clear..

• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress..

• Keep baby smoke-free..

• Avoid your baby getting too hot..

• Sleep your baby in the same room as you for at least the first six months.

Call for families to follow the guidance

Hilary Frank, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families at Cornwall Council, said:

“Thankfully SIDS is now very rare, but it is still causing devastation for dozens of families nationwide every year. Following safer sleep advice can significantly reduce the chances of SIDS so I would urge anyone looking after a baby to read those six bits of advice from the Lullaby Trust. It might save your little one’s life.”

Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, added:

“Promoting safer sleep advice is everyone’s business by talking to families, and supporting them to understand how to avoid the specific risks, we can help to reduce the number of babies dying.

“Talk to your midwife or health visitor if you have questions or concerns, or text Chat Health Parent Line 0 to 5 on 07312 263 423. You can also find more information about safer sleep by visiting the Safer Sleep page on the Cornwall Council website.”

More guidance is available on the Safer Sleep page on the Cornwall Council website.