Support at home – keeping your baby safe

Support at home – keeping your baby safe

Worried about your newborn?

There are a number of ways to seek advice and help if you are worried about your newborn baby.  

You can use the HANDi App to check their symptoms and get instant, NHS approved medical advice. Find out more about the HANDi App at: HANDi App: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System 

It can be difficult to tell when a baby is seriously ill, but the main thing is to trust your instincts. You know better than anyone else what your child is usually like, so you’ll know when something is seriously wrong.

Common signs of an unwell baby:

• A very high or low temperature  
• Your baby feels hot or cold  
• Your baby is quiet / hard to wake up  
• Rapid breathing or panting  
• Sucking in their stomach when breathing 
• A rash on their skin  
• Green vomit
• Not feeding normally

Where to get help:

• During the day Monday to Friday – call your GP surgery.
• In evenings and weekends, call NHS 111.
• When your baby is under 6 months old it’s hard for a doctor or nurse to assess them over the phone – you can go to an urgent treatment centre, or if you’re very worried, take them to A&E.
  Is your baby or toddler seriously ill? – NHS

Please note: The Alexandra Hospital does not run an A&E paediatric department, for urgent concerns about your baby please bring them to Worcestershire Royal Hospital A&E.

Safe sleep

It is really important to make sure your baby is safe when they sleep.

Following safer sleep advice can significantly reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (sometimes called SIDS or cot death) which sadly affects a number of families each year.

Below is a list of things you can do to prevent SIDS, follow this advice until your child is 12 months old (adjusted for premature babies).

DO:

• Lie your baby on their back to sleep 
• Place your baby in the “feet to Foot” position- with their feet touching the end of the cot, moses basket or pram. 
• Keep the sleep space clear- no teddies or toys  
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress 
• Keep your baby smoke-free 
• Avoid your baby overheating  
• Sleep your baby in the same room as you for at least the first six months  

This video outlines how to co sleep more safety:

DO NOT:

• smoke during pregnancy or let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby –both before and after birth.
• sleep on a bed, sofa or armchair with your baby- SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep in an armchair or sofa with an adult. They can also easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.  
• share a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke or take drugs, or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
• let your baby get too hot or too cold – a room temperature of 16C to 20C, with light bedding or a lightweight baby sleeping bag, will provide a comfortable sleeping environment for your baby.
• share your bed with a baby who has been born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighs under 2.5kg or 5½ lbs when they were born. 

Additional information about safe sleeping:

You can find more information about safe sleeping on the following webpages:

• Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – NHS 
• The Lullaby Trust – Safer sleep for babies, Support for families 
  

Slings and baby carries  

You can find more information about Slings and baby carries on the NCT webpage: Baby slings and carriers: a guide | NCT

Car seats

Babies and young children must always travel in an appropriate car seat.  Never use a rear-facing baby seat in the front of the car when an airbag is fitted (unless it is switched off). 

If using a front-facing seat, position the car seat as far back as possible.  Should the car have airbags in the rear, check the car manual or contact the manufacturer to see if it has been tested with a car seat fitted and get a copy of the research results before fitting the seat. 

Your baby should not sleep in a car seat for longer than necessary. Car seats are designed to keep your baby safe while travelling, but they should not be your baby’s main sleeping place. 

Your baby should not be in a car seat for longer than two hours at a time. Research has shown a link between travelling in car seats for long periods and breathing difficulties in young babies. 

If you are driving for a long period of time, it is important that you take regular breaks (at least every two hours). This will allow you to take your baby out of their seat, giving them the chance to stretch and move around. 

When you reach your destination, you should take your baby out of their car seat, and if they are sleeping, transfer them to a cot or pram with a firm, flat surface. 

Read more information on choosing a baby car seat on the NHS website. 

Crying

All babies cry and some babies cry a lot. Sometimes you will know the reason; perhaps your baby needs a nappy change, a feed or a cuddle, or is not feeling well. However, sometimes you can try everything to stop your baby crying and nothing seems to work. This can be very distressing.  

There are many things you can do to comfort a crying baby: letting your baby suckle at your breast (if you are breastfeeding), holding a baby close to you, rocking, swaying, singing and stroking them. Rocking your baby to and fro in the pram or taking your baby for a drive in the car may be of help. 

Find things for your baby to look at and listen to. Massaging your baby or giving him/her a warm bath may also be of benefit. If your baby’s crying is upsetting you, talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP about it.

There is support available to help with coping with a crying baby. Find more information at: Parents – ICON Cope 

You could also contact Cry-Sis, a national charity that offers support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies: www.cry-sis.org.uk

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Caring for your baby after birth

Go back to ‘After your baby is born – support at home‘