Parenting Tips and Advice

Becoming a parent for the first time always brings new anxieties. No matter how confident and laid-back they appear on the surface, all new mums and dads have to deal with a whole range of new worries - you’re definitely not the only one to have these concerns.

Although your neighbour’s tragic loss has probably made you even more aware of the risk of Cot Death (or SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) try to bear in mind that it’s rare. In the UK, approximately 365 babies die from SIDS every year. Of course, this is still 365 deaths too many but you might take some reassurance from the fact that the number of cot deaths in the UK has fallen by nearly 70% since the introduction of the ‘Reduce the Risk’ campaign in 1991.

You can also take a few practical steps to reassure yourself that you are doing everything you possibly can to help your baby sleep safely. The Foundation For The Study Of Infant Deaths (Registered charity no: 262191) has 9 key steps parents and carers should take to reduce the risk of SIDS:

• Cut smoking in pregnancy - fathers too!
• Do not let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby
• Place your baby on the back to sleep - this has been proven reduce the risk of cot death (side sleeping is not as safe as sleeping on the back). Placed on her back, a healthy baby is not more likely to choke. If you find your baby on her front before she’s 5-6 months old, gently turn her over but don’t feel you should be checking for this constantly through the night. At 5-6 months, the risk of SIDS falls rapidly. At this age, it’s normal for babies to roll over and they should not be prevented from doing so, but still put your baby on her back to sleep.
• Do not let your baby get too hot
• Keep baby’s head uncovered - place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent wriggling down under the covers
• If your baby is unwell, seek medical advice promptly
• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot in your room for the first six months
• Do not share a bed with your baby if you or your partner:
  * are smokers (no matter where or when you smoke)
  * have been drinking alcohol
  * take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
  * feel very tired.
• Never sleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair
  
  There is also a risk that you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby, or that your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured.

These are just the key guidelines, but you can find much more information on the dedicated websites listed below. If you still feel anxious, you could also call the SIDS helpline on 020 7233 2090, and talk through your concerns with a trained counsellor.

Cradle cap is a soft, slightly sticky, scaly, yellow rash, which can completely cover a baby’s scalp in the first few months of life. It’s actually a form of dermatitis called Seborrhoeic Dermititis. In adults it’s sometimes attributed to overgrowth of yeast, but the cause in children is unclear.

Usually, it occurs in the scalp area, but it can affect behind the ears, the skin creases, around the tummy button and nappy area. It’s not itchy or uncomfortable for the baby, but can make proud parents feel uncomfortable when they want to show off their gorgeous new baby - although it’s not so obvious in babies with lots of hair.

No treatment will get rid of it but it’s worth rubbing in almond, arachis, olive or baby oil once a day, preferably leaving it on over night to give it a chance to penetrate the scales. Similarly, you can make a thick paste with baking soda and water - apply it at night and wash it off next morning. Some of the cradle cap flakes will come off with the dried paste, and don’t be alarmed if some hairs come off too. Your doctor may suggest a cream containing salicylic acid on prescription, which aims to break the keratin (the thickening in the flakes, which is also found in hairs).

The main things to remember are: