Infant sleep experts give advice that raises Sids risk
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 5
Infant sleep experts give advice that raises Sids risk
10 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 5
Undercover BBC footage showed Alison Scott-Wright recommending front sleeping for a nine-week-old, while Lisa Clegg suggested towels and muslins in cots, contrary to NHS guidance.
Doctors and The Lullaby Trust said the advice was dangerous, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting backing tighter rules and the Bruce Smith family urging mandatory training for paid infant sleep carers.
The report says anyone can call themselves a sleep expert or maternity nurse in the UK, despite 197 unexplained infant deaths in England and Wales in 2022 and longstanding back-sleeping guidance.
Beyond banning 'sleep gurus,' how will the UK fix the postnatal care crisis that fuels demand for their dangerous advice?
When social media 'experts' contradict NHS safety rules, how can exhausted new parents know who to trust with their child's life?
As AI apps replace sleep consultants, could they become the next unregulated threat or a data-driven solution for infant safety?
The Dangerous 12% Shift to Unsafe Sleep During Infant Illness Driving a Surge in SUID
Overview
A 2025 Johns Hopkins study revealed that caregivers often shift to unsafe sleep practices, like increased bed-sharing and using adult beds or sofas, to comfort and monitor sick infants. These risky habits frequently persist even after recovery, contributing to a rise in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), which increased by nearly 12% in the US between 2020 and 2022. This trend is worsened by widespread misinformation on social media and AI chatbots promoting unsafe sleep advice, fueled by cultural distrust in experts and a policy vacuum following the 2025 termination of the Safe to Sleep campaign. Recent federal funding aims to restore this vital public health effort to combat misinformation and improve caregiver education.