Editor—Ford et al 1 examined the association between maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and the risk of sudden infant death and found a higher risk for babies whose mothers consumed more than 400 mg/day of caffeine during the first and/or the third trimester of pregnancy (with increased risk especially for the third trimester group).

We are concerned because preterm babies, especially those of low and very low birthweight, are routinely treated with caffeine or theophylline to prevent apnoea and …