Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to raise awareness of the risks of parents sharing a bed with their baby.

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published updated guidelines on co-sleeping in December 2014. The guideline advises health professionals to discuss co-sleeping (which can be intentional or unintentional) with parents and carers and inform them that there is an association between co-sleeping (parents or carers sleeping on a bed or sofa or chair with an infant) and Sudden Infant Death.

As part of the Healthy Child Programme, which is provided for all children and their families, health visitors provide information on the risk of sudden infant death including advice on sleeping positions, co-sleeping and room temperature.

Comprehensive advice for parents is also available on the NHS Choices website.