Experts issue URGENT WARNING after seeing two celebrity baby photos

Baby experts have stepped in to issue a special warning to parents after two celebrities posted photos of their babies, raising serious questions about sleep safety.

Kim Kardashian’s recent first photo of her fourth child, Psalm, was posted on social media showing her new son asleep in a sleep pod, surrounded by loose blankets.

Husband Kanye West sent his wife a photo of their newborn son with a message reading, “Beautiful Mother's Day with the arrival of our fourth child.  We are blessed beyond measure. We have everything we need." Kim then added this message to her social media feed.

But baby safety and sleep experts at several SIDS charities and medical groups around the world, including  The Lullaby Trust, have warned against parents copying this amid fears over Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. 

It's thought more than 130 babies die of unexplained causes in Australia every year.

Jenny Ward Acting Chief Executive of The Lullaby Trust told NetMums,

‘In the age of social media, celebrities have more influence than ever over parents and consumers. 

‘When it comes to sharing images of their babies, it is important for them to keep in mind that their photos might be unintentionally promoting unsafe practices or products.’

‘It is vitally important that parents are aware of advice on how to sleep their baby safely, if all parents had access to this information many lives could be saved.

‘However, images depicting celebrities sleeping their babies unsafely give mixed messages to parents and make this task much more difficult.’

Sleep pods which fit inside a cot and loose blankets are two things that The Lullaby Trust and Red Nose charity in Australia actively warns against.

Singer Jessica Simpson, 38, was also criticised after she posted a photo on Instagram of her third baby, two-month-old Birdie Rae, sleeping on her front – a sleep position that SIDS experts also strongly advise against.

It is also NOT recommended to leave headbands on babies while they sleep incase they fall down over their mouth or nose. 

Sleep safety advice

While the cause of SIDS isn’t known, there are things parents can do to increase the safety of their children as they sleep

• Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
• Keep the cot clear of pillows, cot bumpers, or any loose, excessive or bulky bedding.
• Place baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months.
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition.
• Keep baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth.
• Never cover baby’s head or face while sleeping.
• Do not co-sleep if you smoke, have drunk alcohol or taken medication that may make you less aware or if your baby was premature or of low birth weight.
• Use a cot that meets current Australian safety standards. Cots that meet the standard will have a clear label – AS/NZS 2172:2003 for cots and AS/NZS 2195:1999 for portable cots. 

Where to get SIDS advice in Australia

The Red Nose charity has a wealth of advice.