Cot death

Does cot death run in families?

No, less than 1% of cot deaths is due to an inherited disorder, such as an enzyme deficiency. It is very rare for cot death to occur twice within the same family.

Why are the police involved?

The law requires that a coroner investigate all sudden and unexpected deaths in infants (and adults) to certify the cause of death. The coroner's representative, usually a police officer, will ask the parents for information. The police are authorised to investigate unexpected deaths, and they may visit the home, take photographs and perhaps remove the baby’s bedding.

Is there any support for parents who have had a cot death and are having another baby?

Yes, the Care of the Next Infant (CONI) programme, run by FSID (Foundation of the Study of Infant Death) in conjunction with the NHS, offers advice, support and practical help to cot-death parents in the care of their next baby. This programme is also available to families whose babies have died for other reasons, the extended families of cot-death babies and parents of babies who have experienced Apparent Life-Threatening Events (ALTEs). Ring FSID's 24-hour helpline on 020 7233 2090 for more information about the CONI programme.

What research is being done?

Most of the research into cot death in England and Wales has been funded by FSID. Since it was founded in 1971, FSID has spent over £8 million on research. All research funded by FSID is rigorously assessed by independent scientists and doctors. We believe that, in order to reduce the rate of cot death further, we need to understand what makes babies healthy. Research currently being funded is looking at:

• How babies cope living in difficult circumstances
• Interaction between parents and their babies when sharing a room or a bed
• How physiological control mechanisms are influenced by age, sleeping position, passive smoking and other risk factors
• What influences parents in making baby-care decisions
• Antenatal and postnatal physiological development of babies born to mothers living in difficult circumstances and how this affects mother-infant interaction
• Ways to reduce babies’ exposure to passive smoking
• Airway function in low birth-weight infants
• Identifying new risk factors for the prevention and reduction of cot death.