A Rotorua coroner has hit out at parents sharing their beds with babies, which he says is costing a life a week.
Coroner Wallace Bain is calling for an advertising blitz aimed at parents of young babies to get the message out about the danger.
Annually, between 50 and 60 babies died when they slept in the same bed as an adult -- on average at least one baby a week, Dr Bain said.
He said that despite the publicity some people were still not aware of the dangers.
"It takes very little to inhibit the airways of a baby -- that's the problem. Just a couple of fingers or a hand resting on the chest can restrict breathing."
His call comes after recent inquests into five babies who died when sharing a bed with siblings or parents.
One inquest was told a Tokoroa couple had slept with their four-week-old baby in their bed despite another of their children dying in similar circumstances in 2009.
The Ministry of Health said it welcomed the call for greater awareness on the issue.
