Hillsborough Sheriff Warns Parents Against Sleeping With Babies

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -- Following the deaths of two babies last month, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister is warning parents and guardians about the dangers of sleeping in the same bed as a baby.

In 2018, eight Hillsborough County children died while sleeping with parents, and seven more suffocated from unsafe sleeping environments.

In a public service announcement released Monday, April 22, Chronister spoke directly to mothers and fathers of young children saying, "Parents, I know you're tired, and it's easier to let your baby sleep next to you in bed or on a couch, but it's extremely dangerous. Not only can you roll over on your child, but your baby can also get trapped between the mattress and the wall or suffocate from blankets, pillows and stuffed animals."

Chronister advised parents that the safest place for a baby at night is in his or her own crib or bassinet.

"Remember, a baby isn't developed enough to let you know they're in a bad spot, they can't move or can't breathe," said Chronister.