What referral pathways exist for families who have experienced a SIDS event or have concerns about SIDS?

For families who have experienced a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) event, the primary referral pathway is to **bereavement support** ¹,⁴. This support should be offered by a professional with appropriate expertise to the parents or carers, both before and after the death of a child or young person ¹,⁴. Siblings should also be offered bereavement support ¹.

When planning bereavement support, discussions should include the support that is available, what the family would find helpful and acceptable, and what support different professionals, such as their GP or healthcare professionals who knew the child, could provide ¹,⁴. The multidisciplinary team should be informed about the support plan ¹,⁴. Possible options for support include opportunities to talk to the professionals caring for the child, home visits from healthcare professionals, and bereavement support groups ¹,⁴. Additionally, practical arrangements needed after the death, such as the care of the body, legal considerations (including the involvement of the child death overview panel and the coroner), and funeral arrangements, should be discussed and provided in writing ⁴. Psychological bereavement support groups should also be discussed with parents or carers ⁴.

For families who have **concerns about SIDS** regarding a living infant, the provided guidelines do not outline specific referral pathways solely for general SIDS concerns. However, postnatal care includes discussions with parents on safer practices for bed sharing to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ⁵. Healthcare professionals are advised to listen carefully to parents' concerns about their baby's health and treat these concerns as an important indicator of possible serious illness ⁵. If concerns about a child's safety or welfare arise, or if child maltreatment is suspected, a referral to children's social care should be considered ⁶. For suspected developmental problems, referral to an appropriate local pathway for further assessment is recommended ².