Title: Secret Investigation Exposes Risky Sleep Guidance from Unregulated ‘Experts’

A BBC investigation has uncovered alarming instances of dangerous sleep advice being dispensed by self-proclaimed infant sleep consultants, with medical professionals warning that such guidance could lead to severe injury or fatalities. During an undercover operation, a reporter was advised by one of these individuals to place a newborn on its stomach, a method scientifically proven to drastically elevate the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

In contrast, the National Health Service (NHS) strongly recommends that parents always lay their babies on their backs in a dedicated sleep space, such as a cot, for the first year of life to minimize SIDS risks. The NHS further specifies that the sleeping surface must be firm, flat, and waterproof. Another consultant identified in the investigation suggested placing towels inside the infant’s cot, a practice that the baby safety charity The Lullaby Trust warns also heightens the risk of SIDS and accidental death.

Healthcare professionals who reviewed the undercover footage described their reactions as feeling “horrified” and “sick.” They attribute the proliferation of such unsafe advice to the rapid growth of an unregulated infant-sleep consulting industry, which is exacerbated by a lack of adequate post-natal support for new parents. While experts acknowledge that many practitioners offer safe and valuable guidance, they caution against a “dark side” within the sector.

The investigation was spurred by numerous parents who contacted the BBC to express concerns, particularly regarding two high-profile figures: Alison Scott-Wright and Lisa Clegg. Both women boast significant Instagram followings, celebrity endorsements, and published books. One mother described Scott-Wright’s advice during a consultation as “really cruel.” Another parent, who had sought Clegg’s counsel for two infants born years apart, expressed regret for having followed advice to place multiple muslin cloths and other loose items in the cribs, stating it had put her “young babies in danger.”

Both consultants defended their practices. Scott-Wright told the BBC that her support has “helped a multitude of babies, children, parents and families,” asserting that she takes “infant safety and the well-being of families extremely seriously.” Clegg claimed she had “successfully advised thousands of parents” on sleep and routines, maintaining that her advice has never been “dangerous or put babies at risk.”

To test these claims, the BBC sent an undercover reporter to book online sessions with both women, posing as the mother of a nine-week-old newborn who was experiencing frequent night wakings. This age falls within the critical one-to-six-month window where the majority of SIDS cases occur. Previously known as cot death, SIDS is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of a healthy infant up to 12 months old during sleep. Official figures for 2022 recorded 197 such deaths in England and Wales, 16 in Scotland, and two in Northern Ireland.

Currently, there is no regulatory body requiring certification for anyone wishing to label themselves a “sleep expert.” Furthermore, Scott-Wright and Clegg also operate as self-described “maternity nurses,” a role involving direct care for infants that is similarly unregulated.

This lack of oversight follows the tragic death of Madison Bruce Smith, the four-month-old grandson of football manager Steve Bruce. An inquest concluded that the baby died while asleep in his cot after being placed in an unsafe, prone position by an individual identifying as a maternity nurse. In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced plans to close this regulatory loophole across the UK by prohibiting the use of the term “nurse” unless the individual holds appropriate qualifications. Streeting told the BBC that “dangerous misinformation dressed up as expert advice is putting babies’ lives at risk - and it must stop.”

Following the inquest, the Bruce Smith family is advocating for stricter regulations and “mandatory training” for anyone offering paid sleep care services for babies and infants.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-05 05:01:18 UTC