OUR heart goes out to the Accrington family whose baby's tragic death - so suddenly and unexpectedly - you reported (LET, March 4).

This is a terrible reminder that the cot death problem is still not solved.

With nine babies dying every week, it remains the leading cause of death for children and there is a desperate need to provide support for families when tragedy strikes.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths would like to stress there is no known cause of cot death, but we do know that the risk of cot death can be reduced by:

Placing your baby on its back to sleep

cutting smoking in pregnancy - fathers, too

Not letting anyone smoke in the same room as your baby

Not letting your baby get too hot

Keeping baby's head uncovered - place your baby with the feet to the foot of the cot to prevent baby from wriggling down under the covers

If your baby is unwell, seek advice promptly

Readers who would like information about cot death or would like to know how to help, should send an A5 SAE marked 'Reduce the Risk' to FSID, 14 Halkin Street, London SW1X 7DP, or telephone our 24 hour helpline on 0171 235 1721.

JEAN CANDLER, Information and media assistant, The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.

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