Following the findings from a BBC national investigation into potentially harmful safe sleep messaging, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is reminding parents and carers about the Safe Sleep information on its website.

Guidance

Parents and Carers can find guidance about safe sleep for babies by contacting Sefton Health Visitors on 0151 247 6354 and on their website at www.merseycare.nhs.uk/safe-sleep.

Advice is also available from the Lullaby Trust at www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-information.

Qualified professionals

Dr Rory McGill, who is Sefton’s Director of Public Health, said: “It’s really important that families follow safe sleep advice from qualified professionals and there is plenty of information that can be accessed through our Heath Visiting Service and the Lullaby Trust.

"I would encourage parents and carers of very young infants to seek out that professional advice."

Warning

Earlier this year, Sefton Council Parents shared a warning about baby sleep pillows after the national Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a Product Safety Alert about them.

Warning to Sefton parents and carers about potential dangers of baby sleep pillows 

Often animal shaped, baby sleep pillows or cushions are sold for babies to sleep on, or with, or to be placed on or with, unsupervised. 

Research has found that they can cause suffocation and overheating, which can lead to serious injury or death in babies under 12 months old.  This can happen when an infant is placed on a baby sleep pillow unattended or for sleep and includes when the sleep pillow is put into a cot or crib.

Mouth and nose

At the time, Dr McGill said: “If a baby presses their mouth and nose against the soft and squishy materials these products tend to be made of, it can lead to suffocation. 

“And if a sleeping baby’s head sinks into a pillow’s soft surface, heat can’t escape and they can overheat, which results in a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

“We want to make sure that parents and carers in Sefton, as well as nurseries, schools and businesses are aware of the potential dangers of baby sleep pillows.

“The dangers are not inevitable, but even one baby harmed is one too many.”