There has been a four-fold increase in infants dying after falling asleep with a parent on a sofa, research shows.
A team at Bristol's Royal Children's Hospital warns "cot death" does not always mean a cot - about 30 babies die in the UK a year after sharing a sofa.
The researchers say parents should never snuggle up with very young children on a sofa if they feel tired.
The Lancet study also found more deaths are occurring among poor families, and among those where the mother smokes.
The researchers said a very successful public education campaign had helped to slash cot death rates by 75% since 1991.
However, their study suggested the appropriate messages had still not got through to many poor young mothers.
It is already known that the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher for babies that are born premature, or have a low birthweight.
Male babies also appear to be more at risk, as do those who sleep on their side or front.
Smoking during pregnancy, or in the house after a child is born, is another risk factor.
Source
A team at Bristol's Royal Children's Hospital warns "cot death" does not always mean a cot - about 30 babies die in the UK a year after sharing a sofa.
The researchers say parents should never snuggle up with very young children on a sofa if they feel tired.
The Lancet study also found more deaths are occurring among poor families, and among those where the mother smokes.
The researchers said a very successful public education campaign had helped to slash cot death rates by 75% since 1991.
However, their study suggested the appropriate messages had still not got through to many poor young mothers.
It is already known that the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher for babies that are born premature, or have a low birthweight.
Male babies also appear to be more at risk, as do those who sleep on their side or front.
Smoking during pregnancy, or in the house after a child is born, is another risk factor.
Source