Oxfordshire Baby & Parenting Guide | Page 51

safer sleeping Thankfully cot death (or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), which can affect babies up to six months old, is becoming increasingly rare and there are steps you can take to further prevent it from occurring. 1 Always lie your baby down on his or her back to sleep 2 Place baby ‘Feet to Foot’ – i.e. feet at the foot of the cot 3 Ideal room temperature should be 16–20ºC, ideally 18ºC: overheating is an identified cause of cot death 4 Never let anyone fall asleep with your baby in their arms, or place them on a beanbag, sofa or chair 5 Keep the cot clear of plastic sheets, bumpers, ribbons or anything that your baby can get tangled up in 6 Ensure that mobiles are hung high enough not to get caught in 7 Use rubber sheets covered in cotton, not plastic, as the latter can cause suffocation. Tuck all sheets and blankets safely and securely under the mattress 8 Pillows, throws or quilts sh