[Care for brothers and sisters of crib death children. Evaluation of a support project as an alternative to home monitoring].

A pilot-study was carried out on support measures chosen by 40 families having a subsequent child after their experience with a cot-death infant. Cardio-respiratory monitors were used in one group and weighing scales in the other. General support measures given to both groups included the keeping of symptom charts and weekly visits by health-nurses. Parents who used a home-monitor relied upon the medical-technical approach of the problem, while parents using scales were mainly given confidence by the personal attention of the health-nurse. Monitor-parents more often called the paediatrician for advice than parents using weighing-scales. Especially parents who used weighing-scales commented on the great value of the symptom diary and the weekly home-visit of the health-nurse.