Studies we've funded

Risk factors are well recognised but they are complex, and may not be easily understood by parents, carers or midwives. Many families may be unable, unwilling or reluctant to modify their behaviour. For these families, behaviours such as smoking, alcohol and drugs are not easily controlled.

We don’t yet understand the experience of midwives providing SIDS preventative care. Claire will speak with midwives who understand the facilitators and the barriers these families face. The research will also explore with midwives if there is tailored advice for those living in areas of higher deprivation compared to those living in more affluent areas. This project could result in informed, targeted support mechanisms and education, to help support midwives in their role of offering the most tailored advice to families.

Grant award: £1,500.00

This research project is due to end on 31 May 2026. This research is funded by The Lullaby Trust.

In 1981, in Sheffield, the Infant Home Surveillance Research project began. This started as a home monitoring programme of infants that were considered at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But researchers soon discovered that the additional presence of health professionals/researchers available to the families offered significant support to those who had previously lost a baby to SIDS.

The project went onto become the Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme that continues to this day. CONI supports families who have experienced a sudden and unexpected death of a baby before and after the birth of their new baby. Over 23,000 babies have been on our programme now, giving peace of mind and reducing anxieties for more than 20,000 families.

In 1988, we began to fund a number of projects exploring the effect of temperature on babies. As the results rolled in, it became clear that the ideal room temperature for babies was 16 – 20°C and that overheating was a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This formed the basis of our guidance around room temperature and the risks of overheating that still exists today.

In 1989, we funded research that developed a scoring system for baby illness. This was to help parents and carers assess their baby’s symptoms, and determine whether they needed medical help or not. In more recent years, this has led to the launch of our popular Baby Check app. Our Baby Check app asks parents and carers 17 simple questions and at the end, they are advised whether they need to take their baby to see a medical professional. It has offered thousands and thousands of parents peace of mind, in their pocket.

In 1990, we funded a vital research project after a hypothesis that toxic gasses may be generated from plastic mattresses, causing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The research dispelled these concerns, demonstrating that toxic gasses from baby mattresses don’t cause SIDS.

We contributed towards funding the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirth and Death in Infancy (CESDI) Study. It was the largest UK study ever completed, with data collected from 1993 to 1996. Over 300 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases were compared to over 1200 controls. It is still widely used today, informing much of our safer sleep advice.

We funded research that highlighted the effects of smoking and showed a link between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and smoking. This contributed to our smoking guidance that we still share today.

We also funded research focussing on sleep practices between families like bedsharing and co-sleeping, for single babies as well as twins and multiples.

We contributed towards funding the South West Infant Sleep Scene (SWISS). This study took place between 2003 and 2006, looking at all sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) in the South West of England. The main focus was on potentially hazardous sleeping environments.

The findings are reflected in our safer sleep advice today, including our co-sleeping more safely advice and smoking advice.

In 2008, we funded a project that looked to understand ethnic variation in infant care practices. This showed a clear need for public health interventions targeted towards multicultural populations, and the need to better consider differing health promotion and risk prevention strategies.

In 2010, we funded research looking into car seats and the risks associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This research led to the car seat guidance that we continue sharing today.