- ‘Baby B’ died unexpectedly in northern Tasmania in August 2016
- Coroner said dangers of co-sleeping are not ‘properly understood’
- He noted there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death
Parents have been warned about the dangers of co-sleeping with infants after a two-month-old boy died while his family slept together in the lounge, because their bedrooms were too cold.
Coroner Simon Cooper published the findings of his investigations today following the death of ‘Baby B’, who died unexpectedly in northern Tasmania in August 2016, while sleeping next to his mother.
He said the infant’s death showed the dangers of co-sleeping are ‘not properly understood’.
Mr Cooper noted multiple studies as well as previous coronial findings in the state had warned co-sleeping increased the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (stock image)
The baby’s family decided to sleep together in their lounge room because the bedrooms were too cold.
But, in the morning, the mother saw her baby had not moved and there was blood on his face. She preformed CPR, but he could not be resuscitated.
Mr Cooper noted multiple studies as well as previous coronial findings in the state had warned co-sleeping increased the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
He added: ‘It is quite clear that repeated reinforcement is necessary to be effective in preventing the tragic deaths of infants in our community.
‘It seems quite clear in this tragic case that the message was not properly understood.’
The coroner noted there had been no suspicious circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
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