The Flemish children’s agency (Agentschap Opgroeien) has launched a new campaign to remind parents, babysitters, grandparents and others that care for babies how to create a safe sleeping environment for them. The awareness campaign comes after a modest rise in sudden infant deaths. The rise has been seen not only in Flanders, but also internationally. Many of these deaths are linked to unsafe sleeping conditions and could have been prevented.
The Agency says that says parents often receive ill-advice either found online or from family or friends. The new “five rules for safe sleep” campaign aims to give parents advice that is based on fact rather than hearsay. The five rules to ensure that a baby is safe are simple: always place babies on their backs, keep the cot clear and uncluttered, let babies sleep in their own bed close to their parents, help them get used to new situations and ensure a smoke-free, healthy environment.
Although the number of classic cot deaths has remained stable since the 1990s “back to sleep” campaign, the number of other sudden infant deaths is rising. Data from Leuven University Hospital (UZ Leuven) shows that in Limburg and Flemish Brabant there were 45 such deaths recorded between 2010 and 2019. A quarter of these were preventable. Since 2020, 32 cases have been registered. 7 out of 10 of the babies that died were found to have done so in sleep situations considered to be unsafe.
Soft mattresses, pillows, blankets and cuddly toys and babies sleeping in an adult’s bed or on a sofa can pose a threat to babies sleeping safely. Experts also warn of the dangers of babies overheating and advise against them wearing hats indoors. They stress that a sleeping bag is the safest option.
The children’s agency stresses that that babies don’t need decorated cots or large cuddly toys, but require proximity and supervision. A baby should sleep in the same room as its parents for the first six months, ideally in a separate cot.
Dutch figures show that more parents now regularly sleep with their baby in their own bed, and this trend coincides with a rise in sudden infant death cases. It is hoped that measures like the awareness campaign can halt the increase.