Pregnancy & Baby 

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Chance of a lifetime

Premature babies are at high risk of cot death. New research commissioned by The Foundation for the Study of Infant deaths should give them better protection

The most important bit of advice given to all new parents – reduce the risk of cot death by putting babies to sleep on their backs – isn’t so clear-cut for premature babies. They’re seven times more likely than full term babies to suffer cot deaths at a later stage, but research has shown that prem babies get a better start in life if they sleep on their front to begin with. The crucial question is: when should these babies be switched from front to back sleeping in order to reduce their risk of cot death? The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), the UK’s leading cot death charity, is carrying out new research to find out.

Dr Sara Levene, FSID’s scientific and medical advisor, said:
‘We need solid evidence on how to care for premature babies as they become stronger, in order to protect them from cot death. Parents have so much health care advice to take in, and it’s vitally important that we offer a clear message on how to give their babies the chance of a lifetime.’

The research will be conducted by Professor Anne Greenough at Kings College Hospital in London. She and her team will study the blood oxygen saturation of premature babies, who are within a fortnight of being discharged from hospital, and will perform regular tests of the babies’ lungs and muscles to see how well they are working. This will reveal when the all-important switch in sleeping position should be made.

At the moment, consultant paediatricians advise that premature babies should sleep on their fronts while they’re in hospital. Later on, usually just before their baby is ready to be discharged, parents are advised to put their child to sleep on his or her back, in order to reduce the risk of cot death. The advice to parents at the moment is place your baby to sleep on his or her back, unless you’re advised otherwise by a paediatrician – and this holds good until we get the results of the research to pinpoint a more definite time to switch sleeping position.

Find out how to reduce the risk of cot death.
Remember:
Don't let your baby get too hot.

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