Hospital cot death failings

Photograph: Paul Mellor Photography
The eye-catching sticker aims to educate mothers on the risks of cot death

Most maternity units in Britain are failing to follow basic guidelines to avoid cot death, a leading charity has warned.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) conducted a survey in 83 maternity units throughout the UK during 2000.

Nine steps to reduce cot death

Place your baby on the back to sleep

Cut smoking in pregnancy - fathers too!

Don't let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby

Do not let your baby get too hot (or too cold)

Keep baby's head uncovered - place baby with his feet to the foot of the cot to prevent wriggling under covers

If your baby is unwell seek medical advice promptly

Don't share a bed with your baby if you smoke, have drunk alcohol, take drugs or medication or if you are excessively tired

Keep the cot in the parental bedroom for the first six months

Avoid falling asleep on the sofa with your baby

It found that 97.6% of maternity units were too hot, many babies were not routinely put to sleep on their backs and in many hospitals mothers were not given the necessary information.

In response to the survey the charity has produced an eye-catching sticker to be placed on hospital cots advising mothers of the necessary precautions they need to take.

The cartoon stickers, which have now been sent to hospitals throughout the UK, shows that babies should sleep on their backs and that overheating is risky for cot death.

'Alarming'

The study found the temperature in 97.6% of maternity units was too hot.

The optimum temperature for a baby is between 16 and 18 degrees Centigrade.

It was also discovered that a large number of babies were not being routinely put to sleep on their backs.

In four of the hospitals surveyed babies were put to sleep on their sides, in one it varied.

But most alarming was the fact that two maternity hospitals did not know what position babies were placed in to go to sleep.

In a third of hospitals there were no set guidelines in place to give new mothers advice on how to avoid cot death.

Seven babies die from cot death every week in the UK.

Conflicting messages

Sarah Kenyon, communications manager at FSID, said: "There are very conflicting messages coming out of this report.

"Midwives obviously do a very good job and often do not have control of things such as temperature on the wards.

"They also do not always have the resources to sufficiently advise parents on cot death.

"There should be some kind of protocol which ensures all mothers get the necessary information."

One midwife, Debra Kroll, said: "These cartoon stickers are giving midwives a helping hand in getting this vital advice across effectively.

"This will make a real difference because this early contact determines the way parents follow the advice at home."