Home Visiting

The Scottish Cot Death Trust’s Community Services Nurse will visit you at home, (or another location if you prefer), to provide information about cot death and the services available from the Trust. They will listen to you and offer support to help you cope with your loss. To find out how you can get access to any of our support services, please contact us.

Counselling

A professional Counselling service is available to anyone affected by the loss of a baby or child to cot death.

Befriending

The Scottish Cot Death Trust can put you in contact with another person who has also suffered the loss of a baby or child to cot death. You can you can meet your befriender in person; speak to them by phone; through email or texting – the choice is entirely yours.

Family Days

When your baby or child has died suddenly and unexpectedly, it is common to feel very isolated and that you are the only person this has happened to. Many families find it very comforting to meet other families who have had a similar experience.

The Scottish Cot Death Trust organises Family Days in different locations in Scotland at different times of the year. They are free to attend and are usually held somewhere like a science museum or the zoo. This means that as well as having a family day out, you can meet other bereaved families in a relaxed and more natural way.

Next Infant Support Programme

When you have lost a baby to cot death, the arrival of a new baby can bring huge anxieties that it might happen again. Through the Scottish Cot Death Trust’s “Next Infant Support Programme” we aim to support you during your subsequent pregnancies; after the birth and for as long as our support is needed.

Apnoea Monitor Loan Service

As part of our “Next Infant Support Programme” we can provide an Apnoea (breathing) monitor, on loan for up to 12 months to bereaved parents, to offer peace of mind with the new baby. The monitor will sound an alarm if the baby stops breathing. All parents will receive resuscitation training before receiving a monitor to ensure they know what to do if the baby has stopped breathing. You can read one parent’s experience of using an apnoea monitor by clicking here.

“Precious Memories” – Garden of Remembrance

Nothing can ever replace your child, but some parents find it helpful to create a lasting tribute to their child by setting up a memorial in our garden of remembrance. To view other “Precious Memories”, or to create your own, please click here.