I think any mum sitting down to write an article on this topic would feel the same – the first sentence and I can hardly breathe. I can’t possibly try to empathise with or understand how the horror of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) must make a family feel, it’s beyond the scope of my words and heavily beyond the strength of my heart. So I begin this article with a huge sorrow and sadness for those families already affected and also with a clear purpose of writing in the hope that together, as parents, we can ensure that our babies are exposed to as few risk factors as physically possible.
According to the HSE website SIDS can be defined as “the sudden unexpected death of an apparently well infant for which there is no explanation”. They also say that “most babies die in their sleep peacefully”.
SIDS is not common – that is important to know – but from the most up to date information I could find it still claimed the lives of 34 babies in Ireland in 2004. This is significantly reduced from 134 babies per year in the 1980s. Babies are less affected when they start to gain mobility at about five months of age. The MOST IMPORTANT thing to take away from this article is that reducing the risk factors for SIDS has reduced the amount of babies that have died. So the advice you hear at every hospital appointment, GP or public health nurse visit is all trying to deliver the same message – if you follow the guidelines for SIDS risk reduction you reduce the risk of your baby being affected.
What do we know?
It is also important to appreciate that whilst some risk factors have been associated with SIDS the cause actually remains unknown. Sometimes there are no answers to the questions SIDS must raise, even though I imagine answers are what you would actually need and be looking for. With this in mind I think all we can do is the best with the information that we DO know.
We know that 9 out of 10 SIDS deaths occur when a baby is six months or younger. We know that more baby boys than girls die from SIDS (1.5 : 1). We know that premature and low birth weight babies have an increased risk of SIDS. We know that exposure to tobacco smoke can increase your babies risk of SIDS x 8! We know that smoking during pregnancy can increase your babies risk of SIDS x 4! We know that sleeping with an adult increases the risk of SIDS and that this risk increases if the adult has consumed ANY alcohol or drugs which may cause drowsiness. We know that putting a baby to sleep on their tummy or side increase the risk of SIDS. We know that a baby using a duvet, quilt or pillow under one year of age is more at risk of SIDS. Finally we know that a baby who is over heated through their clothes or environment is at increased risk of SIDS. So actually we know a lot.
How do we use this info to reduce the risk of SIDS?
Place your baby on their back when putting them down for sleep. If they roll onto their tummy with physical ability and by choice it’s ok but don’t place them to sleep on their tummy. Their feet should be touching the foot of the cot.- Use thin blankets or sheets no higher than their shoulders and tuck them in so that they can’t slip over their heads. Alternatively I found it easier to use baby sleeping bags. Always use the correct size sleeping bag for your baby as otherwise it may slip over their heads – if the small size of sleeping bag seems too big just use blankets for a few more weeks.
- Do tummy time to help develop strength and muscle tone – you can read more about this in my flat head article by clicking here.
Eradicate all exposure of tobacco smoke to your baby – quit smoking if your can or if not ensure you smoke outside (another room in the house or out the window will not completely get rid of the smoke – you may not be able to smell or see it but it can linger for a couple of hours in a room.) Don’t handle the baby or let another smoker soon after a cigarette. For support to quit smoking check out this great website – www.quit.ie – loads of brilliant support and tips available!- Its been found that the lowest risk of SIDS is in babies who sleep in a cot or crib in the same room as their parents until they are six months of age. I found a co-sleeper crib great as it meant I had a lot of the convenience of co-sleeping whilst breastfeeding and recovering from c-section but also the baby had the safety of their own space – in my room.
- Whilst the evidence is not robust on this tip it’s still worth mentioning that soother use has been associated with a reduction in SIDS risk. Obviously if your baby doesn’t take to a soother then there’s nothing you can do about it, but if your baby does like a soother at bed time then it’s no harm – and if it falls out when they’re asleep there is no need to put it back in unless they look for it 🙂 For lot’s of more information on soother use check out my full blog by clicking here!
- Don’t use a duvet, quilt or pillow for your baby if they are under 12 months of age.
- Keep the temperature of their bedroom between 16 and 20 degrees celcius – ideally 18!
- Don’t place their cot, crib, or moses basket next to a radiator, heater, fire or in direct sunlight.
- Babies regulate their heat a lot using their heads – so no hats in bed.
- Use a firm clean mattress which fits the cot or basket well – with no gaps down the sides.
Whilst it’s important to be aware of the risk factors and reduce them where you can I think as parents we would find it hard to cope if you thought this was a common occurrence which was a big risk to your baby every day. So using the most recent figure I could see of 34 Cot Deaths per year in 2004 and also looking at the stats for 2016 – it would mean that to the 34 babies who died there were 63,863 who did not. We can’t always fear what might happen, if we are taking reasonable precautions to reduce risk factors and act as responsible parents I think we have to just believe that everything will be fine and enjoy our beautiful WonderBabas as they grow and develop into amazingly unique and perfect individuals with more wonder to reveal each day.
If you would like to learn more about SIDS or need support there are some great resources available in Ireland:
- HSE Website – http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/C/Cot-death/Preventing-sudden-infant-death-syndrome.html
- First Light – a fantastic source of support and guidance https://firstlight.ie/
I hope you found this information helpful and as always don’t hesitate to contact me on the WonderBaba Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/wonderbabacare) with any questions or for one to one advice for your little one! You can also consult with me in person at Milltown totalhealth Pharmacy in Dublin 6 or over the phone on 012600262
Impetigo is a very contagious bacterial skin condition which most commonly affects children up to four years of age (approx 3%) but also affects about 2% of children from five to 14 years of age. It’s less common in adults and this is probably due to the nature of close contact children have in creche and school environments. Hands on slobbery play definitely encourages the spread of infection of all types but try telling that to a two year old! There may have been a time a few years ago that I was daft enough to think they may listen! 
Aveeno ‘Daily’ moisturising lotion and washes are recommended for normal to dry skin and should be used as a part of your normal daily skin care routine. These products are for your body – whereas the Ultra calming range is for your face. The ‘Skin Relief’ products are lotions which contain soothing ingredients such as shea or menthol. Aveeno also have an emollient cream which is useful when you need more moisture than the lotion provides. The ‘Dermexa’ range is designed to be more soothing than the traditional products and is useful for irritated and sensitive skin. This is the range that many parents use on their children’s skin as it moisturises for up to 24 hours and can provide comfort from itchy skin. It is suitable for children older than three months of age. If you are happily using this range I would probably not change to the specific baby range as I don’t think there would be a huge advantage – unless your child is younger than three months of age.
There are three products available at the moment. The first is the Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Emollient Wash – I used this for almost two weeks on my three and I have to say I found it lovely to use. It will make some bubbles if encouraged which is always a plus when toddlers are involved and two out of my three have extremely sensitive skin but there was no issues at all using this. It’s unscented and is gentle enough that it will not irritate their eyes during the bath. You can add some to the bath or apply it to a wet cloth or sponge to wash them directly. It’s a nice creamy formulation and I’d definitely be happy to recommend it for regular use to anyone looking for a gentle wash for delicate and sensitive skin.
Next up there is Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Emollient Cream – This I have to say is a tricky one for me…I loved it on most levels but I must admit I felt it left a bit of a sticky residue on their skin. Now I’m super fussy when it comes to moisturisers as I have eczema myself and have spent my life trying to find the ideal one so maybe I’m being a bit harsh. It feels lovely to apply and really and truly leaves the skin silky, soft and utterly nourished – there is no doubt about that. The colloidal oats here again will calm and soothe irritated skin so definitely useful during a skin flare up or as a regular use cream. I suppose it just takes a little longer to absorb perhaps than what I’m used to. For anyone that’s interested I’m a bit obsessed with the La Roche Posay Lipikar AP Baume! It offers great comforting moisture, reduces itch and really does absorb very quickly. I think it’s important for a product to be easy to use and when trying to get a baby dressed after applying the Aveeno Baby you might find them a little stickier than you would with the La Roche Posay Lipikar Balme.
Finally there is the Aveeno Baby Daily Care Barrier Cream. This is a cream formulated to soothe and protect against nappy rash. I really like this product! I was using it for the two weeks on my 11 month old who during that time suffered from a tummy bug and got his first tooth! It really got a good test with him and a less effective cream would not have saved him from discomfort. It has a lovely thick consistency like what I expect from a nappy cream – sort of like Sudocrem! I found it to be a really effective barrier cream. It’s also easy to apply and contains the colloidal oats to soothe the skin. I love this nappy cream and would find it hard to choose a favourite between this and Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream. If you’re looking for a cream that can be used for general skin irritations on areas other than the nappy area then I would go with La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume.
I hope you find this helpful and if you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to contact me by sending a private message to the WonderBaba facebook page (
Maternity leave comes to an end all to quick. Precious days spent getting to know this amazing little person who has just joined your family. It almost feels like they are just starting to blossom into their new personalities when it’s time to go back to work. Some people have the option of taking a year off, some people only a few weeks, whatever your reasons, choices and commitments it boils down to the same thing…you have to leave your baby. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of mums out there who are excited to go back to work, I was one of them in many ways, but even with the best job in the world it can be a phase of major adjustment, upset and turmoil! Otherwise known as ‘the mammy guilt’. Rather than going down the road of discussing why people make a choice to go back to work or to highlight that many people don’t actually have a choice in the first place I thought it might be refreshing to focus on the positives! So this little article is for all of you working mammies out there who are struggling to cope with the guilt of having to leave your baby whether it be for a couple of half days a week or a five day full time working week. This article is a focus on the positives – and actually I’m amazed by the length of it!!!
Being somewhat appreciated for what I do.
The commute and singing along to the radio without the kids asking 20 questions!
Sitting down.
‘Not being called mammy, however being a teacher I do get called mammy at work from time to time!’
Coming home to big cuddles.
When a baby has arrived to the outside world they still want to be on top of you all day long but also have a whole other host of new demands you need to figure out too! I’m actually smiling here to myself writing this because even when I think back the short 10 months since my little man was a newborn it seems like such a long time ago. When I think about the tiredness, the pains and the aches after coming home from hospital my mind immediately travels to thoughts of the cute little size he was, the way he fitted curled up in my own two hands and the gorgeous little baby noises he used to make! Don’t even start me on that ‘new baby smell’! Babies have an amazing superpower… they are in cahoots with mother nature and they black out all of the hard stuff so that it is only the cuddles and smells that you actually remember! That is why I have decided to write this blog now…mother nature may soon make me forget! So here it is…sleep the battle…my story uncovered!! 
Cows milk allergy (CMA) or cows milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy diagnosed in young babies due to their heavy reliance on milk, exclusively for the first six months. There is not always a known reason when a baby develops a CMPA but risk factors include a family history, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.
Breastfeeding and CMPA
Bottlefeeding and CMPA
The prescription milk or breast milk should be used when making up food – not any other form of milk.
My little boy met the Prince Lionheart Slumber bunny over a month ago when he was about 7 months of age. His big sisters fell completely in love with him and it was a challenge to stop them stealing him from his cot! They decided to call him Fluffy….not very original I thought and not quite a strong enough name for a bunny of this stature…So I put it to a public vote on the 
Depending on your preference he will soothe your baby when they are stirring or crying by playing white noise, wave sounds, womb noises, music, or even a recording of your own voice! He stops automatically after 15 minutes which is great as it means he takes it easy on the battery – I mean carrots of course! He has a USB charger which is pretty handy for when he is tired himself from all of that comforting and he has a useful little strap which means if he is joining your family on little trips he can be secured to the buggy and is more likely to make it home..no one needs the drama of a missing bunny!
We like routine in our house – mostly to help us adults cope with life with three children who are still 4 and under so at 7pm I feed Callum whilst he listens to whitenoise or waves and then he dozes off – I pop him into his cot and the Slumber Bunny stays on and I feel this promotes a smooth transition. I then sneak out of his room like some sort of undercover ninja – creaky floor boards are my nemesis!! I find having noise on helps him not to notice my sleek exit – well it would if I didn’t trip over the pile of clothes waiting to make the laundry on my way out making more noise than a bull in a china shop! We can’t all be blessed with graceful co-ordination.. The noise of the slumber bunny also helps to stop Callum hearing the chaos of me getting the older two to bed which makes the whole evening a lot more manageable.
