Babies who die as cot deaths often appear to have died of suffocation, because they may be found face down or with their faces covered. However, it is very rare that suffocation is the actual cause. Cot deaths used to happen more often in the winter, but this winter peak has almost disappeared since the Reduce the Risk campaign. Cot death can happen to any family, though it is more likely to happen in families living in difficult circumstances. At present, the incidence of cot death appears to be lower amongst Asian families, but because of the number of factors associated with cot death, no one knows why this is.
Cot death remains the most common kind of death in infants aged under one year.
In 1998, the number of cot deaths was over two and a half times that of babies under one year who died of leukaemia, or who died of meningitis. No, cot death can affect any baby, but certain babies are more at risk, namely boys, premature and low birth-weight babies. The law requires that all sudden and unexpected deaths be investigated by the Coroner to certify the cause of death. The Coroner's representative, usually a police officer, will ask the parents for information. Sometimes the CID may also visit.