London - Mothers must be taught about the risks of sleeping with their baby to cut the number of cot deaths, health officials have said.
Around 250 babies die from sudden infant death syndrome (Sids) every year in England and Wales.
Now the health watchdog has said all parents should be made aware of the link between cot death and falling asleep with a baby up to the age of one.
Midwives, GPs and health visitors should also make them aware the risks are significantly higher if they drink, smoke or take drugs, the draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) states.
Babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight are also at an increased risk of cot death if they sleep with their parents.
“Falling asleep with a baby, whether that’s in a bed or on a sofa or chair, is risky,” said Nice’s clinical practice director professor Mark Baker.
“It’s imperative that all parents and carers know about the association between sudden infant death syndrome and falling asleep with a child under the age of one. This is especially important if parents drink alcohol, take drugs or expose their baby to tobacco smoke.”
He said there was no consensus on the cause of Sids, but it is linked to falling asleep with a baby. - Daily Mail