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The Lullaby Trust is the only charity in the UK working specifically to prevent sudden infant death and support families whose baby or young child has died suddenly and unexpectedly. Around 4 babies a week die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the UK.

We provide emotional support for bereaved families at any point after the death of their child and for as long as they need it.

Our helpline is open 365 days of the year and our specially trained advisors listen and offer further support with empathy and understanding. We can match individuals up with a Befriender, who are bereaved themselves, to provide phone and email support for as long as they would like. We know how isolating it can feel to be bereaved by sudden infant death, and sometimes speaking to someone who has been through something similar can be a comfort.

If and when a family feels ready to have another child, our Care of Next Infant programme can help to ease the anxiety that they may feel by providing additional support, such as increased visits from their health visitor, before and after the birth of the new baby.

Our vision is a world where no baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly. Until we achieve this, we are there for anyone experiencing the death of a baby or young child at this incredibly difficult time of their lives, and any point after.Ìý

Every pound donated will be matched pound for pound up to £25,000 by the Sandhu Charitable Foundation.Ìý

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I’m supporting the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Lifeline Appeal for The Lullaby Trust as I know first-hand how important it is for bereaved parents to have somewhere to turn during the darkest time of their lives and at any point after.

My son Archie died in 2009 and although I’m not afraid to talk about him or share my experience now, that wasn’t always the case. I know only too well how hard it is. So many feel they have nowhere to turn, no one to talk to, like no one understands. Talking is the biggest step forward, it’s the one thing that helps you heal.

That’s why support offered by The Lullaby Trust is vital to ensure that families don’t suffer in silence and know that they are not alone. Please help to provide this lifeline for bereaved families by making a donation today.

After Harpreet’s baby, Karam, died at 4 months old, she was offered additional support from The Lullaby Trust’s Care of Next Infant (CONI) programme with her subsequent pregnancies. Harpreet’s CONI co-ordinator Sue supported her when she experienced a late miscarriage in her second pregnancy and understood that she would naturally be very anxious about future pregnancies. Harpreet and Pavandeep then welcomed their new baby, Saroop.

When Saroop became ill at 4 months, Sue was there to help. Even though she had already finished work for the day, Sue rushed to ensure that he was seen quickly at the hospital. The reassurance of having Sue’s support has meant that Harpreet can enjoy time with her son without constant worry while Saroop, now 14 months old, is happy and healthy.

Holly and Fabian’s daughter, Silver Rose, died at just 16 days old in 2018. Although the couple supported each other well through such a difficult experience, they soon found that once regular life came back to the forefront it wasn’t practical to dwell on their grief and be ‘consumed’ every day.

Being matched with Lullaby Trust Befrienders allowed them to openly speak about how they were coping to someone who had been through the same experience. They felt able to say Silver Rose’s name without making others feel uncomfortable and appreciated having someone so animatedly asking questions about Silver Rose, not shying away or avoiding the topic.Ìý

The family have also attended a The Lullaby Trust’s free Family Day with their other children, which allowed them to focus on enjoying each other’s company. Holly describes how, for the first time in a long time, it allowed her to feel positive about the future.ÌýÌý

Following the sudden death of Nicola’s son, Alexander, at 17 months, Nicola constantly asked herself whether she missed a sign and feared that her other children could die suddenly and without warning.Ìý After being handed leaflets at the hospital for The Lullaby Trust, she called the helpline and spoke to one of the specially trained advisors.Ìý

Nicola describes the support she received from the charity as being like ‘a friend, a shoulder to cry on’ and knowing that there was a charity fighting her corner as a bereaved parent, helped hugely. Nicola has since become a Befriender to ‘listen and help someone in their darkest time’, providing the support that was so beneficial to her.

Nicola and her family have also put incredible effort into raising over £200,000 for The Lullaby Trust in Alexander’s memory. They hope that one day there will be an answer for families wondering why their baby died.