NAPPING can be essential for young kids to feel energised throughout the day and avoid feeling overtired.
But medics have warned parents to avoid making a common mistake when putting their little ones to sleep.
Baby first aid experts have warned that you could be putting their life at risk
Medics at CPR Kids said they often get asked asked about whether children can be put to bed with hoods onCPR Kids
Keeping your little one’s face and head uncovered can reduce their risk of a sudden and unexpected deathCPR Kids
If your tot is wearing a hoodie, bonnet, beanie when you put them down for a nap, it could have possibly deadly side effects, a baby and child first aid education team has warned.
This is because items covering their head could slip down and put them at risk of suffocation or even strangulation.
“Keeping your baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep reduces the risk of sudden and unexpected death, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS),” the team behind CPR Kids wrote.
Also known as ‘cot death’, SIDS refers to the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.
Though the syndrome sounds alarming, it is very rare and only around 200 babies in the UK succumb to it every year, according to the NHS.
It typically occurs within the first six months of a baby’s life and usually when they are sleeping.
You can further reduce the slim chances of SIDS affecting your little one by making sure you don’t smoke when you’re pregnant and – when it comes to sleep – always placing them on their back.
Aside from suffocation or SIDS, putting your baby to sleep with a covered head can also cause them to overheat.
This is because little ones regulates their temperature through their face and head, according to CPR Kids.
According to Dr Bec Thornton, Red Nose’s national health promotion manager: ” Research has linked the risks of SIDS to overheating, and overheating can be caused by room heating, high body temperature and excessive clothing or bedding.
“Placing your baby on their back and keeping their head and face uncovered for sleep has been shown in the research to be protective against overheating and suffocation, and therefore reduces the risk of SIDS.”
The medics behind CPR kids noted that you should be removing all bonnets, beanies, hats, headbands, hoodies or hooded clothing before your child’s sleep or nap time.