What is cot death?

Cot death is a term commonly used to describe a sudden and unexpected infant death that is initially unexplained. The equivalent medical term is 'sudden unexpected death in infancy' (SUDI). Some sudden and unexpected infant deaths can be explained by a thorough postmortem examination and other investigations. Cot deaths that remain unexplained after a thorough examination are usually registered as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sometimes other terms like sudden infant death, sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) or unascertained may be used.

Does it only happen to certain babies?

No, cot death can affect any baby, but certain babies are more at risk, namely premature and low birth-weight babies and boys, and later babies born to mothers who are still young

What is the usual age for cot death?

Cot death is uncommon in babies less than a month old, but rises to a peak during the second month. The risk then diminishes as the baby grows older. Nearly 90% of cot deaths have occurred by six months, and very few occur after a year.

Does cot death run in families?

Cot death can happen to any family, though it is more frequent in families who live in difficult circumstances or who smoke a lot. It is uncommon in Asian families, for reasons that are not yet understood. It is very rare for cot death to occur twice in the same family, though occasionally an inherited disorder, such as a metabolic defect, may cause more than one infant to die unexpectedly.

How can you reduce the risk of cot death?

There are a number of key steps you can take:

• Cut smoking in pregnancy – fathers too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as the baby.
• Place the baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side).
• Do not let the baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered.
• Place the baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers.
• Never sleep with the baby on a sofa or armchair.
• The safest place for the baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with it’s carer for the first six months.
• Settling the baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while the baby is asleep.
• Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy.

If the baby is unwell, seek medical advice promptly.

During the day baby should be put down to sleep in a room that is being used by household members e.g. sitting room rather than being put down in an upstairs room. N.b. all areas that children sleep in must be SMOKE FREE.

Guidelines for Use of Soothers (Dummies)

• Settling a baby to sleep with a dummy, even for naps, can reduce the risk of cot death. If the mother is trying to establish breast feeding do not give a dummy for the first month until feeding is established or with the advice of health visitor/ specialist breast feeding support nursery nurse.
• Don’t worry if dummy falls out while the baby is sleeping, and don’t force a baby to take a dummy if he or she does not want it.
• Never coat a dummy in anything sweet.

For further information and advice contact your Health visitor or visit www.fsid.org.uk or contact the federation for sudden infant death help line on 020 7233 2090

The above was compiled using information from the Federation of Sudden Infant Death.

Downloads

• FSID factsheet on looked after babies (PDF)
• Research background to the Reduce the Risk of Cot Death advice (PDF)