Dr Kerryn Phelps, 'Today' Health Editor, with Steve Liebmann

PHELPS: Good morning, Steve.

LIEBMANN: Now, let's start with this new research on SIDS, the one that says used mattresses might, might increase the risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome.

PHELPS: Well, researchers who published in the British Medical Journal just this week have raised the issue of used cot mattresses for babies and saying that, when they look at the children who have died from SIDS, there seems to be a higher proportion of these babies who have slept on mattresses that have been used by other children before them, and particularly if that mattress came from another home.

LIEBMANN: Another home. That seems to be the linkage, doesn't it?

PHELPS: It does seem to be the linkage at the moment. Now, this has raised an interesting question about the environment that a baby sleeps in and how that is related to the possibility of sudden infant death syndrome. Now, there are things that we know about sudden infant death syndrome now in terms of prevention and certainly sleeping the baby on their back is now internationally recommended, making sure that the baby's face is not covered up, keeping the home smoke-free. Terribly important that nobody in the home smokes when there's a baby, and also during the pregnancy. Ensure that the cot meets Australian standards and of course…

LIEBMANN: This new one.

PHELPS: Yep. Now, there are some of the experts who are saying a new mattress for every baby is not necessary if the mattress has a removable cover which is waterproof and washable. And so they're going to have to look further into this.

LIEBMANN: Okay, stroller related injuries. I mean, commonsense, and you can prevent them.

PHELPS: Well that's right, but I think sometimes we need to be reminded about commonsense.

LIEBMANN: Yeah.

PHELPS: And certainly, parents who have maybe a toddler and a baby and they're trying to carry their shopping and walk the stroller along the road may not be thinking about all the things that you need to do to keep the stroller safe.

LIEBMANN: Ah, but we're going to tell them.

PHELPS: We're going to tell them. Now, when you have a look at the injuries, one of the main things is that people aren't using the restraints. So if you have a look at a stroller like this and it has shoulder straps and it has…

LIEBMANN: A four-pointer actually, a four-point safety belt.

PHELPS: It does. And it's really important when you just put the baby into the stroller, you don't just put them in there, but you actually take the time, the extra few seconds it takes to actually strap them in and make sure that the baby can't get out because there are … one of the main causes of injury in babies was that they simply wriggled their way out and fell on to their heads, fractured their skulls, damaged their faces with cuts and bruises, broke limbs. And the other thing is tipping of the stroller. So if you hang…

LIEBMANN: Lock it properly.

PHELPS: …shopping on the handles. Well, that's right, you do need to lock it properly. Make sure that, when you're opening or closing it, you lock it. But also in terms of the handles, if you load up shopping bags on to the handles rather than use the storage underneath the pram, then that can make the stroller tip backwards and tip the baby out, as well.

So, a significant source of injuries, most of them minor, fortunately, but, there are some skull fractures and limb fractures and fingers getting trapped in moving parts and so forth. And people need to be careful.

LIEBMANN: So before you use it the first time, read what the manufacturer says you should do.

PHELPS: Well, that's very important, too, to make sure that you actually open the pram or the stroller so that it locks open properly and it's stable, that you always use the restraints provided and don't hang bags on the handles and, follow the instructions so that you actually know what you're doing with the thing.

Some of the strollers you need a licence to operate them, I reckon.

LIEBMANN: They've changed since my day, I can tell you.

Now just quickly, a new report on diabetes, that says a population half the size of Brisbane is carrying undiagnosed type-2 diabetes.

PHELPS: Yes, an enormous number of Australians are carrying diabetes and don't know that they have the disease.

Now, this is mainly referring to the mature on-set type of diabetes and the longer you leave it undiagnosed, the more likely you are to get the complications. And the complications can include loss of limbs, loss of kidney function, loss of eyesight. So when you see your doctor for your regular check-up, particularly if you're over 40, just suggest to your doctor that you have a blood-sugar test done. It's very easy.

LIEBMANN: Especially if there's a family history.

PHELPS: Very correct. If you have a family history of diabetes - you been doing your homework?

LIEBMANN: I have.

PHELPS: Then make sure that you ask your doctor about having a test for diabetes. It's a very simple test and it should be done on a regular basis for people over 40.

LIEBMANN: Good one, see you next week.

PHELPS: Thanks, Steve.

LIEBMANN: Thanks, Kerryn.

Ends