Infant Deaths Where Parents Were Below Age 30

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will (i) share how many infant deaths took place in 2025 and 2026, where any one parent is below 30 years old and (ii) consider requiring first-time parents below a specific age to attend practical infant-care courses covering safe responses to persistent crying as well as information on where to seek help.

Answer:

             As at end-September 2026, there were no infant deaths due to abuse or neglect for 2025 to date.

2.          Practical infant care programmes and resources are available through hospitals and the HealthHub website, covering newborn care, safe responses to persistent crying, when to seek medical attention, and where to seek help when parents feel overwhelmed. Families for Life parenting programmes are also available through Families for Life @ Community.

3.          There is no evidence that mandatory infant-care courses for some parents will be effective in preventing infant abuse. Our approach is to instead equip all parents with the knowledge and support they need to care for their children safely, and to make it easy for parents to seek help early. Where families face greater challenges, our social service agencies and community partners provide more targeted support according to their needs.