NT Health urges parents to sleep babies safely this Red Nose Day
NT health authorities are urging parents to learn to sleep their babies and toddlers safely to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected deaths among children in the Territory.
Northern Territory
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NT health authorities are urging parents to learn to sleep their babies and toddlers safely to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected deaths among children in the Territory.
With today being Red Nose Day, NT Health is reminding parents that to prevent the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) they should always sleep babies on their backs with the head and face uncovered, keep pillows, doonas and soft toys out of the cot when their child is in it and keep babies in a smoke-free environment.
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Royal Darwin Hospital midwifery education consultant Alison Jarvis said there had been 23 cases of SIDS in the NT between 2014 and 2018, with an 85 per cent decline in cases since 1989.
There were 169 stillbirths and 87 deaths of neonatal newborns in the same time frame.
“In Australia, nine children still die suddenly and unexpectedly every day,” Ms Jarvis said.
“That’s more than 3,000 babies, toddlers and preschoolers every year – more than double the national road toll.”
“We are still losing them to stillbirth, SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome), and fatal sleeping accidents.”
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Territory parents who have experienced a stillbirth or a baby or child who has died can get support from Red Nose Australia in the NT through the Bereaved Parents Support group.
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