Nearly one third of parents do not receive, or fail to remember, advice they are given about cot death, a survey has shown.
Cot death rates have fallen in recent years, but it still claims the lives of 300 babies less than a year old in the UK every year.
Parents should be advised how to reduce the risk during pregnancy, but often aren't informed until much later, the survey by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) found.
Of those parents surveyed, 31% said they had not had or could not remember discussing cot death, but results varied hugely depending on where the baby was born.
More than half (51%) of parents who did remember professionals discussing cot death with them, said it took place after the birth. It is important to get advice early as cot death can be reduced by cutting smoking during pregnancy.
FSID director Joyce Epstein said: "Promotion of advice to reduce the risk of cot death is patchy, varying according to where the baby is born, and may come too late, after inappropriate bedding is bought or other unsafe arrangements made.
"If everyone followed the Reduce the Risk message, we estimate cot deaths could be cut by over half right now."
Cot death, also called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of an infant. No single cause has ever been identified but there are several things the Foundation recommends to reduce the risk.
Parents should avoid exposing their child to smoke, put the baby to sleep on its back and keep it cool with the head uncovered. Babies should not be allowed to sleep in their parents' bed but in a cot in the same room, at least during the first six months.
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Cot death rates have fallen in recent years, but it still claims the lives of 300 babies less than a year old in the UK every year.
Parents should be advised how to reduce the risk during pregnancy, but often aren't informed until much later, the survey by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) found.
Of those parents surveyed, 31% said they had not had or could not remember discussing cot death, but results varied hugely depending on where the baby was born.
More than half (51%) of parents who did remember professionals discussing cot death with them, said it took place after the birth. It is important to get advice early as cot death can be reduced by cutting smoking during pregnancy.
FSID director Joyce Epstein said: "Promotion of advice to reduce the risk of cot death is patchy, varying according to where the baby is born, and may come too late, after inappropriate bedding is bought or other unsafe arrangements made.
"If everyone followed the Reduce the Risk message, we estimate cot deaths could be cut by over half right now."
Cot death, also called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of an infant. No single cause has ever been identified but there are several things the Foundation recommends to reduce the risk.
Parents should avoid exposing their child to smoke, put the baby to sleep on its back and keep it cool with the head uncovered. Babies should not be allowed to sleep in their parents' bed but in a cot in the same room, at least during the first six months.
Source