Cot death: follow up support for families with subsequent children.

Sudden infant death is the major cause of post-neonatal mortality in industrialised countries. For parents, the sudden, unexpected and inexplicable death of their baby can be devastating. Long-term support and follow-up care is needed. In the second of two articles Alison Stewart, Peter Fleming and Thelma Howell describe a follow-up support scheme offered to parents in Avon who have experienced a cot death and subsequently go on to have another child or children.