Reduce The Risk of Cot Death:(The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID))

• Cut smoking in pregnancy - fathers too!
• Do not let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby
• Place your baby on the back to sleep
• Do not let your baby get too hot
• Keep baby’s head uncovered - place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent wriggling down under the covers
• It’s safest to sleep your baby in a cot in your bedroom for the first six months.
• It’s dangerous to share a bed with your baby if you or your partner:
   - are smokers (no matter where or when you smoke) 
   - have been drinking alcohol 
   - take medication or drugs that make you drowsy 
   - feel very tired.
• It’s very dangerous to sleep together on a sofa, armchair or settee
• If your baby is unwell, seek medical advice promptly

Protecting your baby from accidents and infections: (The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID))

• Keep small objects out of your baby’s reach
• Stay with your baby when they are eating or drinking
• Make sure your baby’s cot and mattress are in good condition and that the mattress fits the cot properly
• Install at least one smoke alarm
• Plan the way you would escape a fire with your baby
• Never leave your baby alone in a bath or near water
• Immunise your baby
• Make sure your baby can’t reach your cup of tea of the kettle or iron flex
• Only use toys suitable for your baby’s age
• Never shake a baby - ask for help if crying gets too much.
• Use a properly fitted baby car seat that is the right size for your baby
• Do not use a baby walker
• Wash your hands before feeding your baby and make sure your baby’s bottle and teats are properly sterilised

PREGNANT WOMEN & CHILD SAFETY IN VEHICLES – NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL

Pregnant Women
The law requires that everyone, including pregnant women, must wear a seat belt. Even if it is uncomfortable, your safety and that of your un-born baby is paramount.

Wearing a seatbelt protects the mother and unborn baby while travelling in the front or rear of a vehicle
• The diagonal belt should be placed resting over the shoulder, not the neck, between the breasts and around the bump.
• The lap portion of the belt should go across the hips, fitting comfortably beneath the bump.
• The belt should be worn as tight as possible. If available use the adjuster until you get the right fit.
• Lap belts are not recommended for pregnant women. Wearing a ‘three-point’ belt is preferable. However, wearing a lap-belt is better than not wearing a belt at all.

Choosing a family car?
If you are considering buying a new car for the family you should examine closely information regarding the safety performance of individual car models.

One such source is Euro NCAP. It provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

Euro NCAP is backed by five European Governments, the European Commission and motoring and consumer organisations in every EU country.

Euro NCAP conducts crashworthiness testing on six classes of car. Looking at Front Impact, Side Impact, Pedestrian Impact and Head Protection it rates each vehicle by using a ‘Star Rating’ system. It then publicises how each individual car performed, and how they compare to other models in their class.

Information can be found by at www.euroncap.com

Choosing appropriate child restraint
Drivers have a responsibility to ensure passengers (occupying either front or rear seats) who are aged under 17, use a seat belt or, if aged under 4, use an appropriate child restraint.

Since 25th August, 2003 they will face up to 4 penalty points and a fine of up to €800 if convicted in court for failure to observe these legal obligations. If on the other hand, you opt to pay the fixed charge, 2 points will be endorsed on your license record.

The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size and which conforms to the car manufacturer’s guidelines.

Type of Child Restraint* Weight Range Approx Age Range

Rearward-facing baby seat:

For babies up to 10 kgs (22 lbs)  OR

For babies up to 13kg (29lbs)  OR

birth to 6-9 months OR

birth to 12-15 months

Forward-facing child seat

9-18 kgs (20-40 lbs) OR

9 months - 4 years

Booster Seat 

15 - 25 kgs (33 - 55 lbs) OR 

4 to 6 years

Booster Cushion 

22 - 36 kgs (48 - 79 lbs) 

 6 - 11 years

(Source: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, www.rospa.org.uk)

• A properly fitted child restraint keeps the child in their seat, preventing them from being thrown about inside or ejected from the vehicle.

• Seat belts are designed for people about 5ft (150cm) and taller. Don’t let your child graduate to using a seat belt too soon. Ideally a booster seat or booster cushion should be used which will enable the seat belt to go around the child properly.

• Airbags pose a potentially fatal risk when using a rearward facing child restraint in the front seat. Check your car manufacturer’s guidelines about special precautions that need to be taken in such circumstances.

• Some child restraints are not interchangeable with different makes of car. Check with the car manufacturer’s handbook before transfer.

Unattended children in a vehicle
• Infants or young children should never be left unattended in a motor vehicle. A variety of hazards can arise, even if you are absent for a short duration.

• Such hazards include an outbreak of fire, breathing problems on warm days and accidental trapping of children in electronically operated windows.

• Always remove the ignition key when the vehicle is not in use.