Parents and carers should avoid co-sleeping with their infants in all situations, a Tasmanian doctor has warned.
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This comes after a coroner on Tuesday ruled the deaths of two infants in Northern Tasmania in 2018 were the direct result of co-sleeping.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Tasmania chairman Tim Jackson said co-sleeping was a known risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
"The guidelines around this are straightforward - it's best to avoid co-sleeping," Dr Jackson said.
He said parents and carers needed to balance what was being told to them by their own parents or grandparents.
"New parents may be tempted to follow cultural advice from their parents and grandparents rather than the current medical recommendations," Dr Jackson said.
Dr Jackson said infants should sleep in their own cot or bassinet on their back, with a safe mattress and safe bedding.
He said infants should also sleep in a smoke-free environment.
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Parents and carers seeking more information about safe sleeping for infants should visit their GP, Dr Jackson said.
"We are very lucky in Tassie at the moment the COVID virus situation is under control and it's very safe to see your GP at the moment if you need advice," he said.
"There's also good advice on the Red Nose Australia website."
When asked if more needed to be done to warn parents of the dangers of co-sleeping, a Tasmanian government spokesperson said child and family nurses provided all parents with information on safety measures for all newborns.
"This is followed up during scheduled appointments," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said a trial of a safe sleeping aid, the Pepi-Pod, was underway in a bid to reduce the incidence of SIDS.
A six-month trial of 100 infant sleeping pods for Tasmanian mothers began in March.
"[The trial] is coupled with a safe sleep education program, complimenting safe sleep advice that is available across the state," the spokesperson said.