A report of the Paediatric Death Review Committee, released by the Office of the Chief Coroner, reinforced the practice of laying children down to sleep on their backs.
“Children should be placed down to sleep on their backs until they are one year of age,” advises Dr. Jim Cairns, Deputy Chief Coroner of Investigations and Chair of the Committee.
“We also advise that children should be placed on a firm mattress in a crib without pillows, crib bumper pads or blankets,” says Dr. Cairns.
Unfortunately some media outlets have been reporting that the coroners’ office is recommending that children be laid on their stomachs. “This is absolutely not correct,” emphasizes Dr. Cairns. “Babies should be put to sleep on their backs and not on their stomachs.”