THE CAUSE OF COT DEATH AND HOW TO PREVENT IT

      Cot death is caused by gaseous poisoning, the gases being phosphine, arsine and stibine (and/or derivative gases). These toxic gases can be generated from the mattress where a baby sleeps. They are formed by the action of common household fungi (e.g. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis) on (respectively) compounds of the elements phosphorus, arsenic and antimony within the mattress. The cot death risk increases as a mattress is re-used from one baby to the next.

     The risk of cot death can be virtually eliminated by ensuring that babies sleep on mattresses (and other bedding) known to be free from the above elements. The BabeSafe range of bassinet and cot mattresses complies with this specification.

     Any mattress which has not been proved by chemical analysis to be free from the elements phosphorus, arsenic and antimony should be enclosed in thick, clear polythene sheeting (minimum thickness 125 microns). Polythene of this type does not contain phosphorus, arsenic or antimony and therefore cannot generate the gases concerned. BabeSafe bassinet and cot mattress covers are manufactured using polythene which meets the above requirements.

     BabeSafe products are available at babycare retail outlets throughout New Zealand and by mail order in some other countries.

     There is no risk of suffocation on a Babesafe mattress or BabeSafe mattress cover or on a mattress which is wrapped in accordance with the Cot life 2000 specifications.

HOW TO WRAP A BABY'S MATTRESS FOR COT DEATH PREVENTION

     The advice to wrap mattresses applies to every mattress on which a baby sleeps (except a BabeSafe mattress) and includes: adults' mattresses; mattresses of other children; and all mattresses made of or containing natural products such as sheepfleeces, goatskins, kapok, tree bark, coconut fibre, etc.

     The most convenient way to wrap a baby's mattress is by means of a BabeSafe mattress cover. As an alternative, parents can purchase polythene sheeting to make their own mattress wraps. If they select this option, the following instructions apply:

      1. Use thick, clear (not coloured) polythene sheeting. The thickness of the polythene must be at least 125 microns. On no account should PVC be used for wrapping mattresses.

      2. Place the polythene over the top of the mattress and down the ends and sides, and then secure it firmly beneath the mattress with strong adhesive tape.

     3. The polythene should not be airtight on the underside of the mattress. It must be airtight on the top and sides of the mattress.

      4. It is imperative to use the correct bedding with a BabeSafe mattress or BabeSafe mattress cover or polythene-covered mattress. On top of the polythene place a fleecy pure cotton underblanket and tuck this in securely. Then make the bed using cot sheets and pure woollen or pure cotton overblanket/s.

     6. Proprietary mattress covers should not be used unless they carry the Campaign against cot death logo or are accompanied by a certificate of analysis showing that they contain no detectable phosphorus, arsenic or antimony (lower limit of detection 0.001% = 10mg/kg = 10ppm). In New Zealand the BabeSafe range of slip-on mattress covers (available at retail stores) complies with this specification.

* BabeSafe BASSINET AND COT MATTRESS COVERS

* BabeSafe MATTRESSES

     The advice to cover mattresses applies to every mattress on which a baby sleeps (except a BabeSafe mattress) and includes: adults' mattresses; mattresses of other children; and all mattresses made of or containing natural products such as sheepfleeces, goatskins, kapok, tree bark, coconut fibre, etc.

     The most convenient way to wrap a baby's mattress is by means of a BabeSafe mattress cover.

     It is imperative to use the correct bedding on top of a BabeSafe mattress or BabeSafe cover. Use a fleecy pure cotton (winceyette, flannelette) underblanket and tuck this in securely. Then make the bed using cot sheets and pure woollen or pure cotton overblanket/s

     BabeSafe products carry the Campaign Against Cot Death logo. This guarantees that they contain no detectable phosphorus, arsenic or antimony (lower limit of detection 0.001% = 10mg/kg = 10ppm).

 HOW TO OBTAIN BABESAFE PRODUCTS

     BabeSafe products are available at babycare retail outlets throughout New Zealand.

     If you live outside New Zealand and would like to purchase BabeSafe products, contact:

 SUCCESS OF MATTRESS-WRAPPING

      Mattress-wrapping for cot death prevention, which has been publicised in New Zealand for over four years, has had a 100% success rate. Approximately 400 cot deaths occurred in New Zealand during the years 1995 to 1999 inclusive, but there has been no reported cot death among the many tens of thousands of babies who have slept on mattresses wrapped to the Cot Life 2000 specifications.

     The New Zealand cot death rate has fallen markedly since mattress-wrapping commenced in late 1994. From 1994 to 1998 the nationwide rate fell by 48%, and the Pakeha (European) rate by an estimated 60%.

     The extent of these major reductions in cot death cannot be attributed to the cot death prevention advice publicised by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Cot Death Association. There has been no material change in that advice since 1992.

     Sales information relating to BabeSafe mattress covers shows that many tens of thousands of New Zealand babies have slept on wrapped mattresses, and also that mattress-wrapping has been enthusiastically adopted by Pakeha (European) parents.

     A considerable body of research has been reported which supports the toxic gas theory for cot death (on which mattress-wrapping is based). Contrary to media publicity, the 1998 UK Limerick Report did not disprove the toxic gas theory, a fact which has been confirmed in the New Zealand Medical Journal. In fact, the Limerick Committee's experiments, which related specifically to antimony, proved the generation of a form of stibine gas.

     Parents, however, are more interested in the practical proof: no reported cot death on a correctly wrapped mattress.