Yes. The wahakura is a flax bassinette and is based on traditional sleeping methods.

Yes, the Police act on behalf of the Coroner.  By law, the Coroner has exclusive right to custody of the body from the time the death is reported to the time he/she releases the body.  The Coroner leads an investigation to find out the cause of death.  A post-mortem examination authorised by the coroner is usually carried out by a Pathologist.

Sometimes tissue is taken by the Pathologist for the purpose of testing possible causes of death. The retention of body parts under legislation requires consent from parents.

SIDS is sometimes referred to as Cot Death.

Research has shown that there is a higher incidence of SIDS in winter.

SIDS occurs in babies aged between one week and one year old.

The National Māori SIDS Prevention Programme was contracted by the Public Health Commission and launched in March of 1994 to decrease SIDS mortality in the Māori community.  A national campaign to reduce SIDS made a limited impact on Māori SIDS rates.  To effectively address Māori rates it was necessary to develop a Māori specific programme.

A Post-Mortem Examination or autopsy is compulsory when authorised by the Coroner and is an assessment of the body to determine a specific cause of death.  A SIDS diagnosis means a cause of death cannot be determined.

It is unclear why Māori statistics are so high. Issues around high rates of maternal smoking in Māori women are linked to the high rate of SIDS. Socio-economic factors are also issues for Māori whānau and their tamariki.

Bedsharing is a time honoured tradition shared by many cultures.  Many whānau enjoy the benefits of safe bedsharing such as closeness with their baby.  However, bedsharing is hazardous to babies when:

• A parent who smokes bed shares with their infant
• A parent is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that cause sedation
• A parent is excessively tired
• Other children share the bed with an infant
• The infant gets caught under bedding e.g. pillows and duvets
• The bed is a water bed or if the mattress is too soft
• A parent falls asleep with an infant on a sofa
• An infant gets caught between the bed and the wall or falls off the bed
• The infant is rolled on

Babies at risk should be put to sleep in their own cot, bassinette or wahakura.  Pillows and duvets should not be used in an infant’s sleeping environment.  The mattress should also be firm.

Parents who smoke during pregnancy, and after the baby is born increase the risk of SIDS for their baby.

To reduce the risk of SIDS:

1. Put baby on their back to sleep, from birth
2. Enjoy a Smokefree pregnancy and keep baby in a Smokefree environment at all times
3. Breastfeed your baby

It is important when travelling with your baby that you maintain as much as possible a normal routine, taking particular note of where your baby sleeps.

Many parents place babies on their stomachs to sleep because they think it prevents them from choking on vomit during sleep. In countries where there has been a switch from babies sleeping predominantly on their stomachs to sleeping mainly on their backs have not found any evidence of increased incidence of aspiration, pneumonia, choking, or other problems. In addition, a review of all the scientific literature found that there is no additional risk of choking on vomit when babies sleep on their backs. Experts actually feel that babies are at a higher risk for choking or aspirating when placed on their tummies than they are when placed on their back.

In some instances, doctors may recommend that babies be placed on their stomachs to sleep if they have disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux or certain upper airway disorders that predispose them to choking or breathing problems while lying on their backs. If parents are unsure about the best sleep position for their baby, it is always a good idea to talk to the baby's doctor or other health care provider.

There is some suggestion that the incidence of babies developing flat spots may have increased with back sleeping. This is almost always a benign condition, which will disappear within several months after the baby has begun to sit up. Flat spots can be avoided by altering the back sleeping head position, such as turning the head to one side for a week or so and then changing to the other. Parents should be sure to alternate arms when feeding and provide lots of supervised tummy-time while awake. Be sure that your baby does not spend too much time in a car seat and carriers to further minimise the potential for a flat head.

As much "tummy time" as possible while the infant is awake and being observed is recommended for motor development of the upper body muscles. In addition, tummy time may also help prevent flat spots from developing on the back of the baby's head. Never leave your baby unattended during tummy-time. If the baby tires or is sleepy, place them on their back in a safe sleep area.

Positional preference appears to be a learned behaviour among infants from birth to 4 to 6 months of age. If placed on their back from day one, most infants become accustomed to the back sleeping position.