Almost 30 babies died co-sleeping in two years, analysis finds

Almost 30 babies in Scotland have died while co-sleeping in the last two years, new analysis has found.

Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC is urging professionals to share advice and for parents and carers to follow available guidance on safer sleeping following the review of baby deaths reported over the last two years.

The review by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Scotland’s deaths investigations authority, found 29 babies have died while co-sleeping in the past two years.

In 2025 COPFS received 57 reports of deaths of infants aged under 18 months and it was found that 14 of the babies died while co-sleeping.

The previous year COPFS received reports of 65 baby deaths and of those it was identified that 15 babies died while co-sleeping.

Analysis by COPFS found of the 29 co-sleeping deaths, 11 involved alcohol and/or drugs consumed by parents and/or carers before co-sleeping.

COPFS said it has a responsibility to take action to reduce preventable deaths in the future and urged people to follow safe sleeping advice for babies.

Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC said: “Every child is precious and the death of a child is an unimaginable pain that no family should have to endure.

“I hope that by sharing the findings of our investigations and by signposting to the expert guidance available, we can help prevent more deaths linked to unsafe co-sleeping and encourage open conversations about safer sleeping practices.”

All sudden, suspicious, accidental or unexplained deaths in Scotland are reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for investigation.

This work seeks to establish what happened and to prevent deaths in similar circumstances in the future.

Baby safety charity The Lullaby Trust said the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, separate sleep space such as a cot.

Jenny Ward, chief executive at The Lullaby Trust, said: “No family should have to experience such heartbreak. Our thoughts are with the families affected and we hope they all receive the support they need.

“The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, separate sleep space such as a cot, but we know that many families share a bed with their baby.

“Whether families intend to co-sleep with their baby, or fall asleep together without having planned to, it’s important that families know when co-sleeping with a baby carries a much higher risk.”

The charity advises people not to co-sleep with their baby if anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol, anyone in the bed smokes or the baby was exposed to smoking in pregnancy.

They also advise against co-sleeping if anyone in the bed has taken any drugs or medication that make them feel sleepy, the baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighed under 5.5 pounds when born.

Laura Buchan, legal director for deaths investigations at COPFS, said: “As a mum I remember how tired I was in those early stages and how hard it can be for the whole family to get enough rest.

“It is vital that families are supported to make informed decisions.

“Tragically, our investigations show that babies have died in co-sleeping situations, when the environment has not been safe.

“The findings of COPFS’s investigations underline the importance of continuing to promote safer sleep practices with parents and carers.”