Cot Deaths are devastating for all the family so every mother needs to be aware of what steps to take to avoid such a tragedy.

Every year approximately 340 babies in the UK die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). There is no single reason as to the cause of SIDS, but research shows that a number of different undiscovered causes or a combination of factors affects babies at particularly vulnerable stages of their development.

It is not possible to prevent a cot death from occurring, but there are many simple ways to reduce the risk:

• Always place babies on their back to sleep, keeping their heads uncovered as babies need to lose excess heat from their heads. Make sure their heads cannot be covered by the bedclothes by sleeping them 'feet to foot' (with their feet touching the foot of the cot) so they don't wriggle down under the covers.
• Settling your baby to sleep with a dummy - even for naps - can reduce the risk of cot death
• Don't allow your baby to get too hot - they can get too hot because the room is too hot or because they have too much bedding or clothing. The ideal room temperature is 16-20¬∫C. Many mothers find it difficult to judge the temperature in the room, so invest in a room thermometer. Use lightweight blankets or a baby sleeping bag. If your baby feels too warm, reduce the number of layers or use a lower tog baby sleeping bag. In warm summer weather, your baby may not need any bedclothes at all. Do not use a duvet, quilt or pillow for babies under 12 months.
• Always put your baby's cot in your bedroom for the first six months
• Never fall asleep with your baby on the sofa or in an armchair as they could not only fall but also suffocate
• Please don't smoke during pregnancy (this applies to both parents). Scientific evidence shows that around 30% of deaths could be avoided if mothers didn't smoke when they were pregnant. Never allow family and friends to smoke around your baby, it's definitely worth making your home smoke-free. For further information on giving up smoking visit the NHS Go Smoke Free website
• Don't share your bed with your baby if you have been drinking alcohol, are taking medication or drugs that cause drowsiness.
• Babies should never sleep with a hot water bottle or electric blanket, next to a radiator, heater or fire, or in direct sunshine.
• A car can become very hot in the summer so never leave your baby inside a car unsupervised and always invest in a sunshade to avoid direct sunlight on your baby
• If your baby is unwell, always seek medical advice promptly

Some interesting statistics from the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths are shown below:

• unexplained infant death rate for boys was over 1.3 times higher than the rate for girls
• 65% of all unexplained infant deaths occurred in babies aged less than 3 months and can happen anywhere not only in a cot
• 28% of unexplained infant deaths occurred over the winter period (December-February), whereas 22 per cent occurred over the summer (June-August)
• 74% of all unexplained infant deaths occurred among babies born with a normal birth weight (2,500 grams and over)
• The cot death rate was highest for babies of mothers aged under 20 at the time of the child's birth (1.27 per 1,000 live births)
• Since the launch of the Reduce the Risk campaign in England and Wales in 1991, the sudden infant death rate has fallen by around 75%.