Free training has been made available for people working and/or living in the Black Country to support the national Safer Sleep campaign run by the Lullaby Trust.

Safer Sleep Week started yesterday and runs until Sunday 17 March, supported by the Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BCLMNS) which is highlighting the training aimed at those who interact with children and families, both personally and professionally.

The training has been funded by The Black Country Child Death Overview Panel Strategic Partnership and so far 1,247 have signed up with sights set on encouraging more people who work in housing, emergency services, maintenance and mental health to come forward. It is suitable for anyone who works in health, education – including early years and nursery providers – social care, voluntary and community organisations, emergency services, housing officers and anyone who engages with families prior to or following the birth of a child.

Through the BCLMNS, Black Country Midwives, Maternity Support Workers and Neonatal Nurses are working to reduce the number of baby deaths in the region where unsafe sleeping habits have been identified.

The Lullaby Trust’s campaign raises awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the simple advice that can reduce the risk of this.

Babies’ airways are vulnerable, particularly in the first few months of life, so it is important that parents and carers are aware of this and the actions they can take to protect them. The simplest way to do this is by sleeping a baby on their back on a firm, flat surface with no padded or cushioned areas. This will help to keep their airways open and reduce the risk of suffocation and SIDS. A cot, Moses basket, bassinet, carry cot, or crib all fulfil these criteria.

Many baby products on the market are not suitable for babies to sleep in, even some which are designed for this purpose. The campaign aims to empower parents with the knowledge to make informed choices about their baby’s sleeping place and understand why some products are not suitable for baby sleep and how to identify and avoid them.

The Lullaby Trust wants parents to be confident about choosing a safer sleep space for their baby and to advise those in vulnerable or emergency situations what to do if they don’t have a cot or Moses basket.

Sally Roberts, LMNS Senior Responsible Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, said: “This is such an important campaign that the LMNS always gets behind – but its key messages and work to promote awareness extend far beyond this week-long focus.

“The training that has been funded through the Black Country CDOP is invaluable and I urge as many people as possible to take up the offer so we can do all we can together to keep our Black Country babies safe and well and better support our communities.”

To sign up, please register your interest using this link: https://forms.office.com/e/ge85D3LHLE. If you have any questions, please contact the Black Country Child Death Overview Panel: bcicb.blackcountrycdop@nhs.net