Urgent warning to all parents of babies as new sleep guidelines have been released

Updated guidelines state that the risk of cot death can be reduced by avoiding co-sleeping and keeping loose objects, such as stuffed animals and blankets, away

New guidelines advise parents to keep their baby’s sleeping area “free” to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

Around 200 young children die from SIDS each year in the UK, with rates remaining stable since falling in the 1990s following a Safe Sleeping Campaign.

While there is some uncertainty about what causes certain babies to die from the disease, experts say there are steps parents can take to protect their child.

SIDS typically occurs in the first six months after a baby is born and is often caused by physical factors in the sleep environment, such as accidental choking, reports The Sun.

Letting babies sleep on their backs and avoiding sharing beds are among the tips from professionals that can help reduce risks to infants.

The latest advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is the first update to the guidelines since 2016.

dr Rachel Moon, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and lead author of the recommendations, said: “The death of a baby is tragic, heartbreaking and often preventable.

“Once we’ve learned something, it’s so simple it’s best: Babies should always sleep in a crib or cradle, on their back, with no stuffed animals, pillows, blankets or other bedding.

“The evidence for this is clear [bed-sharing] however, greatly increases the risk of injury or death to a baby and for this reason AAP cannot under any circumstances support bed sharing.

It was also recommended to let babies sleep on a flat surface and avoid bumpers on cribs.

There have been previous warnings from experts that car bumpers have been linked to 100 infant deaths over the past 30 years.

Soft objects such as toys, pillows, blankets and loose linens should be kept away from the sleeping area to reduce the risk of common causes of SIDS such as suffocation, entrapment and strangulation.

The medics behind the report also advise giving your tot regular “tummy time.”

The tummy position is where babies are placed on their stomach for a period of time and can help them develop the muscles that will eventually help them control their head, roll over, and crawl.

By seven weeks of age, babies should have 15 to 30 minutes of monitored tummy time per day while they are awake, the report suggests.

The report warns that sleeping on a baby’s stomach can cause them to rebreathe their own exhaled air and risk blocking their airway.

Among other factors that may increase the risk of SIDS are maternal smoking or alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

It’s believed that babies who die from SIDS have trouble regulating their heart rate, breathing, and temperature.