Parents are being warned by health bosses about the dangers of drinking alcohol while caring for children after figures of unexpected infant deaths hit record numbers. 

According to local and national authorities, tragic incidents involving parents sleeping together with babies are now above average in the South East.

40 notifications of sudden infant deaths were recorded between 2018 and 2019 throughout East Berkshire, Surrey Heath, Farnham and North East Hampshire. 

Debbie Hartrick, Director of Safeguarding at NHS Frimley, said: “Babies are extremely vulnerable and are highly dependent on those around them for their wellbeing and their safety.

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“If you have a baby or young child and you are planning to drink alcohol, have a conversation with your partner or other adults present about Who’s in Charge and responsible for your child.

“Consider this in the same way we are used to agreeing who is driving and will be staying sober; these safety guidelines help ensure everyone has a good time!”

The ‘Who’s in Charge’ campaign has been set up to raise awareness among patients, particularly around the dangers posed at alcohol, which can cause an already-exhausted parent to fall into a deep sleep dulling their senses.

Lin Ferguson, Director of Children's Services at Achieving for Children (Windsor and Maidenhead) said: “Every healthy baby lost to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is one of the saddest losses to society of a life never lived.

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“To reduce one of the known risks of the impact of alcohol consumption on safe sleeping, it is imperative that parents and carers are made aware of the key message that every baby should be left in the care of a responsible and sober adult at all times.

Due to the hot weather, the trust are expecting additional problems to infants and adults when it comes to sleeping – making awareness even more important when in charge of a young child.