Baby Grace Roseman, from West Sussex, died after she managed to manoeuvre herself over the edge of her crib and a ‘safety ridge’ cut off the oxygen to her brain.
Things you can do:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
- Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months
- Breastfeed your baby, if you can
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
Things to avoid:
- Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
- Dont sleep in the same bed as your baby, if you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth weight
- Avoid letting your baby get too hot
- Dont cover your babys face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding[/breakout]
The Babynest Bedside Crib – which is designed to be placed next to a parent’s bed – has a moveable panel on one side, which can be folded down, leaving a ridge just 7 cm high.
Following baby Grace’s death, West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield listed a number of concerns that she had about the cot.
Mrs Schofield said: ‘In my opinion urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths … should another baby be placed in the prone position and left with the side incompletely lowered again in one of these cots, another death could occur.
‘If the cot’s side is not safe to be incompletely lowered or for the cot to be tilted more than 5 cm then it should be questioned as to whether these should be options available at all.’
Mandy Le Tensorer, from Child Accident Prevention Jersey, is today urging parents to follow safe sleeping guidelines for their babies after this ‘tragic accident’.
Mrs Le Tensorer said: ‘In this particular case, the coroner has suggested that “with regard to the Babynest Bedside Cribs, that should another baby be placed in the prone position and left with the side incompletely lowered again in one of these cots, another death could occur”.
‘CAPJ will look to see if any changes are made to this type of product or if any new recommendations are made. Any new information will be posted on our Facebook page and our website – www.cap.je.’
In the meantime she said that it is important that parents follow the guidelines on safe sleeping habits for their baby from the Lullaby Trust.
Midwives in Jersey give new parents a leaflet produced by the Lullaby Trust providing links on safer sleep for babies.
Lead midwife Julie Mycock said: ‘The Lullaby Trust is a reliable source of sensible advice, and that’s where we direct parents who may be unsure about some of the dos and don’ts regarding their baby’s sleeping. Key points are to never sleep with your baby in an armchair, or in your bed, to avoid letting babies get too hot, not covering the baby’s face or head while sleeping and to avoid the use of loose bedding.’
In a statement Stratford-upon-Avon manufacturer Bednest said it was fully co-operating with the coroner’s investigation and was confident of the crib’s safety.
It read: ‘We are greatly saddened and extend our heartfelt condolences to Grace’s parents and family.
‘We are doubly upset to hear this news, since the concept behind Bednest’s design is first and foremost about baby health and safety and came originally from highly experienced neo-natal nurses.
‘Following this incident we are now considering displaying these basic instructions on the side of the crib itself and not just in the instruction manual. We are also fully co-operating with the coroner’s investigation, as well as independently looking at other ways of ensuring the safety of our cribs, especially for the second-hand market.
‘Bednest customers can safely use the product in accordance with its instructions and we will send a replacement instruction manual to anyone who requests one.
‘We would always strongly recommend all parents who acquire any second-hand cot (or any second-hand baby product) without an instruction manual, to contact the manufacturer for a replacement copy before using the product.’
- ?Members of the public with any concerns about the Bednest crib can contact the NCT inquiries team on 0300 300 0700.
Cannabis use ‘leads to lower grades’
THEY may have been illegally using it for years to relax the nerves in the build-up to big exams, but university students who smoke cannabis can expect to get lower grades across the board, especially in maths. Statistics collected at Maastricht University in Holland, where cannabis is decriminalised, have shown that students who were able to buy the drug from coffee shops were five per cent less likely to pass their courses. At the same time, foreign students who did not have ready access to the mind-bending drug did better on average.
Researchers warn of dangers of car seats
IT SEEMS that there are warnings about doing just about anything these days, and the latest one beggars belief. According to a US university study, allowing your baby to sleep in their car seat could be fatal. Many parents, I am sure, welcome the break when their little one is strapped in and naps during a drive out somewhere, but this latest warning focuses on the risks of strangulation and suffocation. Students carrying out the research also said swings and baby bouncers were also too risky.
Lack of light ’causes eye problems’
FOR years the rise in computers and televisions has prompted health warnings about children spending too much time sitting down and not playing outside. Now a study in London has found that youngsters who spend too long inside are also damaging their eyesight because they are not getting enough natural light. Those who spent just 40 minutes extra outside in the daylight were less likely to develop myopia, or short-sightedness, in later life, the research found.
Parents’ anxiety ‘passes to children’
IT IS only natural for parents to worry about their children, but new research suggests that this anxiety can be passed on to our little ones. Indeed, over-anxious parents can, according to medical research carried out at King’s College London, strongly affect their children’s behaviour from around the age of 11 with full-blown anxiety disorders.
Make children stand in class, experts say
EVERY day in the UK a parent is arrested for leaving a child at home on their own.
And the States of Jersey police say that they investigated two cases of parents leaving their children home alone last year.
The issue of whether, at what age and for how long parents should leave children alone for has repeatedly caused controversy.
‘Some parents would happily leave their responsible eight-year-old on the sofa for ten minutes while they pop to the corner shop. Others would baulk at leaving a more absent-minded 12-year-old home alone under any circumstances,’ said Justine Robert, founder of Mumsnet.
We asked parents on the JEP Parenting page on Facebook for their views on the subject:
Tanya Casey Clements: ‘It is up to a parent to decide. Some children mature quicker
than others. I wouldn’t leave my eight-year-
old but maybe when he was in Year 6 I
would for a short time as by then they are
old enough in Education’s eyes to take
themselves to school.’
Anne Perchard: ‘Once a child is at senior school at 11 or 12 and has a history of sensible behaviour they are ok to leave for short periods – not at night. It isn’t only because the youngster might do something silly, but they may be less able to cope in an emergency.’
Michael Bienvenu: ‘There is no law. It is down to the parent to decide if the child is mature enough to be left on their own in the daytime. However, you can be prosecuted for neglect if any harm comes to the child in your absence. Seems to me that there should be a legal age rather than parents thinking they are safe from prosecution and then falling foul of the law (even though there isn’t one).’
Lizzy Gallichan Bryant: ‘Every child is different.’
CONGRATULATIONS to Prince William and Kate on their fourth wedding anniversary today.
I thought by now I would be joining millions of well-wishers around the world in congratulating them on the arrival of their second child.
Royal baby fever is at its peak, with many people speculating that today is the day the new royal baby will be born as it is widely speculated that Kate has passed her due date by a week.
Our son was born the day before our third wedding anniversary and I have to admit it is lovely having two days of celebrations, but I think my husband is more pleased that our son’s birthday reminds him not to forget our anniversary.
Back to the graceful, glamorous and gorgeous Kate – I think she must now be pleased to be able to finally kick off her stilettos.
I wore my heels every day when I was pregnant with our first-born until I went on maternity leave. But I read recently that doctors in the US have warned that mothers-to-be could be putting their unborn babies at risk by wearing towering shoes.
Beverly Hills podiatric surgeon Stanley Orwasher told ABC News: ‘When you’re pregnant you’re going to change the centre of gravity. Fall over and you’re going to hurt yourself and hurt the baby.’
Well, I have to tell Mr Orwasher that this can happen when you are also wearing trainers.
In my case I was nine months pregnant waddling around Queen’s Valley reservoir with my husband, who led me up the small incline to peer over the top of the damn to look back at Grouville.
The next thing I knew I was rolling down the tiny bank back towards the footpath (in very slow motion) looking like Violet Beauregarde, a character in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory who swells into a spherical shape.
Thankfully me and baby were fine – it was my husband who came off worst, trying to haul his heavily pregnant wife up from the floor. So I am proof that trainers in pregnancy are just as ‘risky’.
Of course, if you are having back pain in your pregnancy then you need to listen to your body and think about what is on your feet and switch to a lower heel, flats or even wedges if you want that extra height.
THERE are so many popular parent-and-toddler playgroups here in Jersey – many of them run by hard-working volunteers and busy parents.
Every week we want to feature a different parish playgroup on this page, so if you would like to be included please email parenting@jerseyeveningpost.com with the following details:
Name of the volunteer(s) who runs the group, where, when, time, what activities there are at the playgroup for the children and a contact number.
This week we are featuring Gorey Parent and Toddler Group
Volunteers: Margo Labey, Annette Le Riche, Audrey Lake, Bruce Willing, Merto Sappe, Jackie and Martin Dawson, Fraser Martin, Jenny Ahluwalia.
Where: Gorey Youth Club – Hillgrove Variety Youth Centre, Les Chemins des Mallieres
When: Thursdays in term time only.
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Activities: Lots of indoor toys, ride-on bikes, slide, trampoline, dress-up clothes, craft table each week, story book area, soft play area for young babies, organised snack time at 10.30am and tea and coffee for parents.carers/childminders/singing time with Fraser Martin on his guitar at 11am – 11.30pm.
