Sudden infant death syndrome: bed sharing with mothers who smoke

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Sudden infant death syndrome: bed sharing with mothers who smoke

C James¹, H Klenka² and D Manning³

¹ Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK
² Child Development Centre, Clatterbridge Hospital, Clatterbridge, Wirral, UK
³ Arrowe Park Hospital, Upton, Wirral, UK

Correspondence to:
Dr C James, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK;
chrisjames@doctors.org.uk

Aim: To examine the sleeping arrangements of sudden infant deathsyndrome (SIDS) cases on the Wirral. In particular to determinethe prevalence of bed sharing with mothers who smoke, a known risk factor for SIDS.

Methods: Retrospective study of postmortem determined cases of SIDS from 1995 to 2000 on the Wirral peninsula (population350 000, 3500 annual births). Ambulance crew reports, case notes,health visitor reports, postmortem reports, and case discussionrecords were studied for each case.

Results: There were 25 cases of SIDS in the postneonatal agegroup over the six year period. In nine cases the baby was bed sharing with the mother, of whom seven were smokers. Five ofthese mothers reported using alcohol or illicit drugs on thenight of their infant’s death. In two further cases thebaby slept on a sofa with a parent.

Conclusions: Bed sharing and smoking remain important risk factorsfor SIDS. Mothers should be advised ante- and postnatally of this combination of risk factors. Such advice should also includea recommendation not to sleep with their baby if under the influenceof alcohol or illicit drugs, and never to sleep on a sofa withtheir baby. All "Child Health Record" books given to parentson the Wirral now include this advice. "Reduce the Risk" adviceleaflets given to parents pre- and postnatally also now carrythe recommendation, and health visitors and midwives have beeneducated with respect to these additions.

Keywords: alcohol; bed sharing; SIDS, smoking; sudden infant death syndrome

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