A MONTH-old baby died after he slept in the same bed as his mum, dad and brother.

Parents Nicky Marsh and Keeley Makin woke to find 30-day-old son Archie unresponsive in their bed hours after he had been brought in for a bottle feed.

The baby had “been squeezed side to side” and had suffered fractured ribs, Bolton Coroner’s Court was told yesterday.

“Co-sleeping” was a main factor in the death, area coroner Alan Walsh was told. He warned parents of the dangers of sleeping with their children.

Archie was Mr Marsh and Ms Makin’s fourth son.

He woke up to be fed at around 1.30am on November 18, 2017.

Mr Marsh fed him, but did not put Archie back in his Moses basket after the feed.

The baby vomited, which was unusual, said the coroner, but it was put down to a cold he had been suffering earlier in the week.

Mr Marsh winded Archie and then kept the baby to his left side in the bed.

Hours later he woke to find Archie unresponsive.

The frantic family called 999 and the baby was rushed to Bolton Hospital but attempts to resuscitate him there failed.

Forensic pathologist Dr Charles Wilson carried out the post mortem examination.

He said: “We know that there is an increased risk of sudden infant death from co-sleeping with parents.

“Children are so precious to us, we should be aware.”

The hearing heard how Archie's fractured ribs may have been a consequence of "co-sleeping", but also may have been a result of resuscitation attempts by parents and medical staff over a number of hours. 

Mr Wilson added: “It is very, very unusual to find these rib fractures. Archie has been squeezed side to side.”

He said other injuries sustained from “co-sleeping” can include suffocation and overheating, but Archie hadn’t suffered those.

Detective Inspector Nathan Percival, said there were no concerns about the welfare of the baby but he acknowledged the risks of sleeping in the same bed: “It’s been in the media, the public, the National Health Service.

“It’s so easy for parents when they are exhausted to sleep with their babies especially around this time of year, but it’s preventable. Just do not do it. Have a separate sleeping area.”

Mr Walsh recorded the death as accidental.

He said any parent who “co-sleeps” with their children could cause a death.

Mr Walsh said: “Many people will have ‘co-sleeping’ in their families without recognising the risk.

“As a grandfather of five, I am aware of those risks that can arise from co-sleeping.

“That is a risk that can be avoided and a death that can be avoided.

He told Mr Marsh and Ms Makin: “I’m sure you would want every parent in the country to think of Archie. He was born into a loving, caring family.”

“You were the perfect parents.

“You would never have imagined that this could have happened.

“It will live with you for the rest of your life.”