Keeping your baby safe - Live Well Little Ones

Live Well Little Ones have released the below film to help you as a parent make the right choices when looking after your baby.

The video provides advice on how to:

• safely put your baby to bed
• cope with a crying baby
• keep your baby at the right temperature and where to get more advice and support if your baby is unwell.

The film was developed in partnership with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

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Live Well Little Ones aims to reduce infant mortality in the city, by supporting parents and carers to be able to make the right choice when looking after babies and children.

Having a plan

Looking after your baby doesn’t have to be hard or complicated but you do need to think and plan for different situations:

• Always have a plan to make sure your baby can sleep safely (and share that plan with others) – babies should always sleep on their backs and sleep in a clear flat cot. Never co sleep with your baby on a chair or sofa or if you have had a drink or taken drugs.
• Make sure you know how to keep your baby at the right temperature
• Always keep dangerous items such as button batteries out of reach of your baby
• If your baby is crying and you are finding it stressful, and it is safe to do so, you can walk away for a few minutes to calm down – never ever shake your baby
• Make sure you know what to do and who to talk to if your baby or child is poorly

Safer Sleep

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the term for the sudden unexpected death of a baby or toddlers where no cause is found. The Lullaby Trust’s Safer Sleep campaign works to raise awareness, educating parents and carers and helping them reduce the risk of SIDS.

You can reduce the risk of SIDS by following some simple hints and tips:

• Place your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first six months.
• Don’t smoke during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
• Don’t share a bed with your baby if you smoke, have drunk alcohol, have taken drugs, are extremely tired, or if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth weight.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
• Don’t let your baby get too hot or cold.
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered. Their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders.
• Place your baby in the ‘feet to foot’ position, with their feet at the end of the cot or moses basket.

Learn more about safer sleep here.