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Baby Fern died at just seven weeks old- her mother has urged parents to be fully aware of the safety advice

By Rebecca Curran

BBC Scotland reporter

Parents are being urged to heed advice on co-sleeping with babies after new infant death figures were released.

BBC News has learned that more than a quarter of infant deaths in Scotland last year involved co-sleeping.

The NHS no longer tells parents never to bedshare with their babies but focuses advice on doing so more safely.

Solicitor general, Ruth Charteris KC, said the figures suggested some babies were dying in "high-risk" co-sleeping situations.

Why Scottish babies are given boxes to sleep in

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has for the first time tracked the number of babies who died while co-sleeping with parents, following concerns identified as a result of its investigations.

During 2023 it received reports of 74 deaths of babies under the age of 18 months.