Coroner warns parents not to sleep with babies

A CORONER has slammed the inconsistent advice given to parents about sleeping with their babies, after investigating 33 sudden infant deaths that involved ''co-sleeping'' over the past three years.

Coroner John Olle said yesterday it was unacceptable that parents were not given clear advice about where and how their babies should sleep, given the increased risk of death if they slept with others in a bed or on a surface such as a couch.

In some cases, Victorian hospitals were advising parents to sleep with their babies despite a worrying association with sudden infant death syndrome and suffocation, Mr Olle said.

''It's got to stop. We need to teach parents not to sleep with their babies,'' he said.

His comments came at an inquest on five infant deaths. The cases stemmed from a Coroners Protection Unit study of infant deaths in Victoria from 2008 to 2010, which found 33 of 72 deaths during sleep had involved sleeping with other people or a pet.

While some people advocated co-sleeping to help breastfeeding and bonding, death could occur from parents rolling onto their baby or covering the infant's face with bedding. A baby could also roll onto its face or become trapped between bedding and hard surfaces.

The review found the vast majority of parents involved had been sleeping with their babies habitually before the deaths and advice to parents by government and non-government organisations varied, with only some advising them not to sleep with their babies. The report said most of the deaths occurred in babies aged under six months. A high proportion were born prematurely, a first child, male or had been breastfed shortly before their death.

There were also higher rates of SIDS among babies of indigenous or Torres Strait Islander parents, and among those exposed to cigarette smoke or whose parents were using alcohol or drugs before the death. Most deaths also occurred in winter and when a pillow was present.

Some did not involve any of these apparent risk factors and the review authors could not say how much co-sleeping by itself increased the risk of death.

Institute of Forensic Medicine pathologist Dr Yeliena Baber told the Coroners Court that while more research was needed, the safest way for babies to sleep was in a supine position in a cot with a firm mattress and with no soft pillows or bumpers.

''Preferred bedding is a sheet with lightweight blankets, which can be tucked in at the sides. The face should not be covered. It is recommended that the environment be … about 16 to 18 degrees Celsius and well ventilated,'' she said. Small infants should be placed at the end of the cot.

She warned against confusing co-sleeping with room sharing, as studies had found infants who slept in the same room as a carer, but not the same bed, had half the risk of SIDS.

Mr Olle said he would make recommendations for clear advice on sleeping to be disseminated as soon as possible.