Cot Death Facts & Figures

Over 300 babies still die every year as cot deaths in the UK[1]

·        FSID’s definition of cot death:

Cot death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason.  The post mortem examination may explain some deaths. Those that remain unexplained after post mortem examination may be registered as sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden infant death, sudden unexpected death in infancy, unascertained or cot death.

·      Cot deaths in the UK (babies aged birth to one year):

The Office of National Statistics (ONS), General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) each collect their cot death figures slightly differently, so please see footnotes below.

·        Cot death among babies aged over twelve months

       The majority of cot deaths occur in babies aged under one year.  In the UK , the number of cot deaths among babies over one year were:

Comparison of SID and unascertained death rate (age up to I year), UK 1997-2004

Note: The statistics below are reproduced from ONS publications and relate (unless otherwise stated) only to babies in England and Wales , aged birth to one year, and include those whose deaths were certified as 'unascertained'.

During the period 2000 - 2004, 89% of all sudden infant deaths in England & Wales occurred among babies aged under six months.

59% of sudden infant deaths in England and Wales occurred among boys, while boys comprised 51% of all live births (figures refer to the period 2000 - 2004).

Since the launch of the Reduce the Risk campaign in England and Wales in 1991, the sudden infant death rate has fallen by around 75%.

Cot death is the leading kind of death in babies over one month old – claiming more lives than meningitis, leukaemia, other forms of cancer, household and road traffic accidents put together.

Last updated August 2005

Why do babies die suddenly and unexpectedly?

Response from the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths to the latest figures for sudden unexpected deaths released by the Office for National Statistics.

Latest figures released today[3] show that 313 babies died suddenly and unexpectedly for no apparent reason in the UK in 2004[4].  This marks a 12.6% fall compared with the previous year’s figures.  While this is very welcome news, more research is needed to explain these deaths and to give us more ways to reduce the risk of cot death.

Joyce Epstein , Director of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths said
“Every year over 300 apparently healthy babies die suddenly and unexpectedly in the UK .  If the same number of people were involved annually in a fatal plane or train crash there would be outrage and investigations.

“Research has revealed some of the ways to reduce the risk of cot death but the causes of these tragedies remain unknown.  Bereaved parents ask us the all-consuming question of ‘why did my baby die?’ and they deserve answers.  It does not seem enough to say that we just do not know.  It is essential to fund more research to unravel the cot death mystery and to save tiny lives.

“Parents need to know how to protect their baby from cot death.  Babies should sleep on the back in a cot by the parents’ bed, be kept smoke- free and not get too hot.  These key messages and more can be found in our BabyZone booklet available by calling 0870 787 0885”.                                

Notes

1.         Please see the attached fact sheet ‘Cot death facts & figures’

2.         FSID is the UK ’s leading baby charity working to prevent sudden infant deaths and promote baby health.  FSID funds research (nearly £9 million to date), promotes health advice to parents and professionals and supports bereaved families.  FSID is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and is the principle funder of research in the UK .

3.         People can make a donation to fund new research projects by calling FSID ’s fundraising hotline on 0870 443 6814.

4.         Interviews should be possible with FSID representatives and cot death parents.

5.         The reduce the risk of cot death advice:

·          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

·          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.