Urgent Call for Safe Sleeping Practices as 19 Infants Die in Co-Sleeping Incidents

Urgent Call for Safe Sleeping Practices as 19 Infants Die in Co-Sleeping Incidents

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spearheaded investigations into 74 cases of infant deaths in 2023, with 19 fatalities occurring during co-sleeping. Disturbingly, 12 of these instances involved the consumption of alcohol or drugs by parents or caregivers prior to co-sleeping.

Solicitor General for Scotland, Ruth Charteris, expressed her condolences to affected families and emphasized the crucial nature of following safe sleeping advice. Despite the effectiveness of overall safe sleep recommendations, the findings underscore the persistence of unsafe co-sleeping practices.

Charteris urged families to prioritize expert advice, emphasizing that while the challenges of familial sleep are understood, adherence to safety guidelines is imperative. Safer sleep advice includes placing babies on their backs, ensuring a clear sleeping space, and avoiding co-sleeping if parents have recently consumed alcohol, smoked, taken sleep-inducing drugs, or if the baby is premature or underweight.

The Crown Office's investigations included witness statements, expert reviews, and discussions with professional services. The hope is that by highlighting concerns, preventable co-sleeping-related infant deaths can be further reduced through open conversations about safer sleeping practices.

For more information on safer sleep advice, concerned parents can refer to the government's guidelines at https://www.gov.scot/publications/safer-sleep-babies-guide-parents-carers/pages/1/

The 19 reported deaths involved infants under 18 months. Anyone affected by the loss of a child can seek support through the Sands helpline at 0808 164 3332 (Monday-Friday, 10 am-3 pm, and Tuesday-Thursday, 6 pm-9 pm) or helpline@sands.org.uk. The Lullaby Trust can be reached at 0808 802 6868 or support@lullabytrust.org.uk.