By Eve Tawfick For Mailonline

Published: 19:01 EDT, 31 August 2022 | Updated: 11:12 EDT, 6 September 2022

Parents worried about keeping warm this winter should avoid putting their babies in too many layers, an expert has warned.

Professor Ian Sinha, a consultant respiratory pediatrician at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, also advised parents not to co-sleep with premature babies, who are at greater risk of cot death.

Professor Sinha works at a clinic supporting premature babies through their first few months and setting them up for the rest of their lives.  

He said clinic staff have recently had to warn some parents against their ideas to keep their vulnerable children warm this winter as they face astronomical energy bills.

Professor Singha has issued fresh warnings about cot death and has been calling for government action to prevent fuel poverty affecting infants

We've had to say "look, don't wrap your baby up in lots of layers" because we know that that is a risk for cot death, and pre-term infants are already at higher risk,' he said.

'We've had to say "try not to sleep in bed with your baby".

'People are saying "well let's all cuddle together that will keep us warm" - again, one of the key risk factors for cot deaths.

'So the way that we're thinking about this winter is very much in terms of the most grave consequences, and we worry that this will either catch up with infants now or in the future.'

Prof Sinha was speaking during a briefing to launch a report on fuel poverty, which is calling for Government action to prevent a 'significant humanitarian crisis with millions of children's development blighted'.

He said that, in the first instance, the answer to cold housing is helping families so they have enough money that they can afford to pay for the heating.

Co-sleeping is when a parent chooses to sleep in the same bed as their baby or child. 

It is often favoured by breastfeeding mothers as it makes night feeds easier. 

Many say co-sleeping caused them to bond with their child. 

However co-sleeping with a newborn or premature infant can increase the risk of SIDS especially if the parent has been drinking or taking drugs. 

Cot companies now offer cots that attach to beds so that parents can co-sleep safely and aren't at risk of rolling onto their baby. 

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust said it is important parents are aware that advice they hear about keeping warm 'may in fact be harmful for babies'.

It said wrapping up babies in the cold winter months is important, but it is also key to ensure they do not overheat and that layers are not so heavy that they cannot breathe due to the weight on their chest.

Parents should try to exclude draughts and keep their babies away from mould and damp, a spokesman said, but added: 'However, in many situations this is made difficult because of, for example, how the accommodation is set out, if there are too many people living there, if there are structural problems with the home, or if parents cannot afford the costs of heating the home.

'The key point is that the best thing for the baby is for the home to be a reasonable temperature - and they shouldn't have to find workarounds for this to happen, especially if it leads to riskier practices around co-sleeping, or if these things are unfeasible or too expensive.'

The NHS advises parents that the safest place for a baby to sleep for the first six months is in a cot in the same room as them, to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - sometimes known as ‘cot death’ - is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year. This statistic may sound alarming, but SIDS is rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is low.

Most deaths happen during the first six months of a baby’s life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk. SIDS also tends to be slightly more common in baby boys.

SIDS usually occurs when a baby is asleep, although it can occasionally happen while they’re awake.

The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, but it’s thought to be down to a combination of factors.

Babies who die of SIDS are thought to have problems in the way they respond to these stresses and how they regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature.

The Trust said if parents choose to share a bed with their baby, they can do this more safely by making sure the baby lies face up on a firm, flat mattress, not having pillows or duvets near the baby and not having any other children or pets in the bed.

It advises that parents seek help from their council, children's centres and Citizen's Advice if their home is cold.

The Lullaby Trust said babies should sleep in a well-fitting baby sleeping bag or well-fitting sheets and blankets that are tucked in, and that duvets, quilts or pillows should never be used in the first year.

Baby sleeping bags are often seen as the safer option to blankets and have risen in popularity over the years. 

A sleeping bag comes with a 'tog' rating. 

A low tog rating means it is a lighter summer sleeping bag and a higher tog rating means it is for winter. 

The baby is at lest risk of suffocation or SIDS as the sleeping bag zips up and clips at the shoulders, keeping the baby secure and warm. 

It said a room temperature of 16-20C is ideal for sleeping babies, which can feel quite cold to a lot of people.

Kate Holmes, head of support and information, said: 'We know that the colder months can be difficult for families and we understand it can be tempting to wrap your baby up to keep them warm while they sleep.

'However, we know that overheating increases the chances of SIDS and research shows that it's better for babies to be cooler rather than too hot.'

Parents should add an extra layer of clothing if they notice their baby is too cool, she added.

Various baby bedding companies advise using a baby sleeping bag with a higher tog rating if temperatures in the home fall.

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