EIGHT babies have died in Hampshire in the past six months as they shared a bed with their parents, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The tragic statistic has prompted a coroner to urge mums and dads to be aware of the dangers of sleeping with new-born youngsters.

Today, the Daily Echo joins forces with Hampshire police in a publicity campaign to alert parents of the risk.

Officers are planning to launch a leaflet and poster campaign in the New Year to highlight the dangers of co-sleeping.

They may also speak to maternity hospitals and clinics to ask midwives and health visitors to include the dangers of co-sleeping as one of the key talks they give to new parents, either during ante-natal classes or shortly after birth.

The campaign is backed by other agencies, such as the NSPCC, social services and the health authority.

A tragedy

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman spoke out after hearing that four-month-old Ellie-Louise Hawkins may have died as a result of sleeping in the same bed as her mum or from over-heating under an adult duvet.

He said the death of the youngster, described as a "perfectly happy, healthy baby", was tragic.

Mr Wiseman said: "It seems that the combination of the heat of sleeping next to an adult and her being covered by a duvet was sufficient to stop Ellie-Louise breathing.

"I think the only thing that is important to say is that a child sleeping in an adult's bed is really dangerous."

Det Insp Adrian Pragnell, of Hampshire police, who investigated the baby's sudden death, told the inquest that mum Stephanie Brown had bottle-fed Ellie-Louise and had gone back to sleep with the baby next to her after her partner Christopher Hawk-ins had gone out for the day with some friends.

He said: "When she woke up, she realised Ellie-Louise was not next to her and had slipped down the bed.

"She called Chris and said Ellie-Louise was dead. She then called her mum, who told her to call an ambulance."

The court heard that Ellie-Louise was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Stephanie, 21, and Christopher, 24, of Shirley, Southampton, were both arrested on suspicion of neglect, but were not charged following the results of the post-mortem carried out by a paediatric pathologist at the Royal London Hospital.

Stephanie has spoken exclusively to the Daily Echo in a bid to highlight the dangers of co-sleeping.

Stephanie, who has a four-year-old son, said she did not think twice about taking Ellie-Louise into bed with her, as she felt it was the most natural thing to do.

She said: "I had my first son in bed with me from when he was 72 hours old until he was eight months old. I did not think it was wrong and nor did my friends.

"I knew what had happened to Ellie-Louise straight away. It's in every baby magazine and pregnancy book.

"They all say do not take your baby in to bed with you but when you read that, you don't think that it could happen to you, so you still do it.

"When you're a new mum, it's the most natural thing to do to have your baby in your bed next to you.

"Every mum I know takes their baby to bed with them."

The post-mortem examination could not find a cause of death for Ellie-Louise, despite extensive tests and examinations.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue told the inquest: "Ellie-Louise was a well cared for and well-nourished infant. There was nothing significant to find, which seems to suggest overheating, and obstruction of breathing by sleeping with an adult may have caused her death.

"Soft, comfy beds and soft sofas are a very dangerous environment for babies. Don't put your baby in bed with you or under a duvet or on a sofa.

"That would stop any question of overlaying, which might have happened here."

Stephanie is calling on midwives and health visitors to make it part of their routine to warn new parents about the dangers of sleeping their baby.

She said: "More parents should be made aware of the dangers of sleeping with their baby.

"If there is something I could do to stop one more baby from dying in this way, then I will. People need to open their eyes and realise it could happen to them.

"This doesn't just happen to bad parents. Some people may read this and think it won't happen to me', but it could.

"It happens to a lot of people. I was amazed how many babies die from sleeping with their parents.

"When I had Ellie-Louise, if a midwife had sat down with me for two minutes to explain the dangers of sleeping with your baby in bed, I would have thought twice about it.

Midwife's advice

"All it takes is two minutes for someone to say to a new mum, do you know how many babies die from co-sleeping?

"Do you know what the dangers are of taking your baby to bed with you?' "A one-to-one chat with your midwife is very important because, during those hours or days after you've had your baby, they give you vital information about caring for your baby and you never forget those days.

"I still know what was said to me when I had my son.

"If you are reading something distressing and you don't want to carry on reading it, you can just turn the page.

"But if someone is telling you the dangers, you are more likely to remember.

"If I had covered Ellie-Louise with sheets and blankets instead of the duvet while she was in bed, or put her back in her cot, she would still be alive today."

Det Chief Insp Paul Barton of Hampshire child abuse team said: "The majority of baby deaths we have investigated this year involve co-sleeping in one form or another and these sorts of things are avoidable.

"We had one case this year where a mother was breast-feeding her baby on the sofa and fell asleep.

"When she woke up her baby was dead."

First published 16th November 2005