Baby deaths research.

PARENTS are being warned by a cot death charity not to risk their baby's life by sleeping alongside them.

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) issued the warning after reports that a high proportion of babies who died were sharing a bed or sofa with a sleeping parent.

FSID's warning came after pathologists told the charity high numbers of babies who died unexpectedly had been sleeping with a parent.

Dr Chris Wright, a consultant perinatal pathologist at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary said of 15 cases of unexpected death in infants between 2008 and 2009, seven were found in the parental bed and two died on a sofa. "In the majority of cases of sudden infant deaths in the North East, babies have been found in adult beds surrounded by duvets and pillows or after falling asleep with a carer on a sofa," he said.

"Although we cannot prevent all unexpected deaths it will undoubtedly lessen the chance of such a tragedy occurring." Parents are advised to discuss the issue with their midwife..