Baby’s death was avoidable

But parents still ignoring warnings

A FRUSTRATED Tasmanian coroner says parents are failing to heed repeated warnings about the dangers of co-sleeping with an infant — despite other deaths and public education campaigns.

In his findings into the death of a three-month-old baby boy in the state’s north in 2017, Coroner Rod Chandler has recommended no child under one-year-old ever share a bed with anyone else.

The baby, known as Baby I, died from probable suffocation due to overlaying while sleeping with his father.

“Tragically, deaths of infants caused by overlaying are continuing to occur in this state and nationally,” Mr Chandler said.

“This is so despite the warnings against the practice made by organisations such as Red Nose and also by coroners.

“In this state both Coroners McTaggart and Cooper have in recent years highlighted the dangers of co-sleeping and warned against the practice.

“Sadly, Baby I’s death is a stark illustration that the warnings are not being heeded.

On the night of Baby I’s death, his parents hosted a dinner with friends in a shed located next to their residence.

The baby boy was breastfed then taken into the house and put in his bassinet in the master bedroom.

After the guests left, the baby’s mother fell asleep in an armchair in the shed and the father went to bed in the house.

He told the coroner he had consumed about 10 beers that night.

He found the baby awake, picked him up from the bassinet, laid him in the bed and then laid down with the baby and went to sleep. The bay’s mother woke at 5am and went inside. She picked Baby I up and noticed that he was cold to touch and stiff. An ambulance was called and CPR carried out. Paramedics arrived and announced the baby deceased.

Mr Chandler said the baby’s father said in his affidavit he was a heavy sleeper and believed he may have rolled on the baby during the night.

The Tasmania Police investigation did not reveal any suspicious circumstances attached to the death.

In his post-mortem examination report Dr Donald Ritchey said the cause of Baby I’s death was probable suffocation due to overlaying while sleeping with an adult. I accept this opinion,” Mr Chandler said.