Today, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation have shared that 80 children have died, who were living in temporary accommodation at the time of their death (between 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024).  

Worryingly, in the past five years, National Child Mortality Database data shows that 74 children have died with temporary accommodation as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health or death. Of these 74 children, 58 were under one-year-old.

Increasing deprivation in the UK has led to more families than ever needing to turn to temporary accommodation, and there is a worry that this is not always suitable for families with a young baby. The APPG report states that child deaths are more likely to occur when homelessness is combined with environmental influences, such as overcrowding, mould and lack of safer sleep space options (like a cot or Moses basket).

Jenny Ward, our CEO says. “Families living in temporary accommodation may be forced into unsafe sleeping practices with their baby, such as unsafely co-sleeping with multiple family members, or parents overwrapping their baby to keep them warm”. 

At The Lullaby Trust, we recently released the latest statistics on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS, previously known as cot death), and were concerned about the lack of improvement in SIDS deaths. Our concerns surrounding rising deprivation and the number of babies and young children living in temporary accommodation continue to grow.

We’ve been doing all we can to ensure the most vulnerable receive support. Our Bedtime Bundles project supports families living in temporary accommodation or emergency circumstances. Jenny says, “We’ve distributed 218 bundles containing essential safer sleep items, including travel cots, baby sleep bags and room thermometers to families, helping them to sleep their baby as safely as possible often under difficult circumstances. We are working hard to stop preventable SIDS deaths, and we won’t stop until no baby dies suddenly or unexpectedly.”

We’ll continue working through the latest data, making further recommendations to local authorities, government and other organisations. If you are a professional working with families in crisis situations, or you know someone who does, use our form to refer a family for a Bedtime Bundle or send on to your health professional

If you are living in emergency or temporary accommodation and you are worried about your baby please look at The Lullaby Trust’s advice, and speak to your midwife or health visitor for more support. Following the safer sleep advice is the best way of keeping your baby safe, and we are all here to support you to do this.

If you are fleeing crisis, living in emergency or temporary accommodation:

Click here for more information

Following safer sleep guidelines can be more difficult when things are out of your control. Speak to your midwife or health visitor for more support, and ask about our Bedtime Bundles if you need a safer sleeping place for your baby. There is a form your health professional can fill in:

If you are waiting on further support, there are a few things you can do to keep your baby safer in the meantime whilst sleeping:

  • Always sleep your baby on their back, in a separate and clear sleep space.
  • Keep your baby cool. When babies overheat, they are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • Keep your baby smoke-free. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher if you or your partner smokes while you’re pregnant, or after your baby is born.

Read our information on staying away from home unplanned and in emergency situations.