A 23-day-old baby boy died after reportedly being accidentally smothered while sleeping between his parents in the Gajraula area, officials said on Monday. The incident has left residents of Sihali Jagir, under Hasanpur police station limits, deeply shaken and has renewed discussions on the dangers of co-sleeping with newborns, especially during winter.

The infant, identified as Sufian, was born on November 10 to Saddam Abbasi (25) and his wife, Asma. The couple, who had waited nearly four years to conceive their first child, placed him between them on the bed before going to sleep on Saturday night.

Parents Found Baby Unresponsive Next Morning

According to family members, both parents unknowingly changed sides in their sleep, causing the newborn to get trapped between them. On Sunday morning, Asma woke up to breastfeed the child and found him unresponsive with no signs of movement. The couple rushed him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gajraula, where medical staff declared the baby dead on arrival.

Relatives said the child had been weak since birth and suffered from breathing difficulties and later jaundice, though doctors noted that suffocation was the immediate cause of death.

No Police Complaint Filed; Family in Deep Shock

The sudden death led to emotional distress for the parents, who briefly argued at the hospital in their shock before being consoled by family members. According to Dr. Yogendra Singh, the CHC in-charge, the family returned home without filing a police complaint.

Health officials confirmed that the death appeared accidental, noting no signs of injury. “The baby died due to suffocation after being accidentally smothered,” Dr. Singh said.

Doctors Warn About Winter Co-Sleeping Risks

Doctors emphasized that such incidents become more common in colder months when families sleep close together under heavy blankets. “Parents should be extremely cautious while sleeping with newborns, especially during winter,” Dr. Singh said.

Child specialist Dr. Amit Verma also advised that newborns be made to sleep separately, ideally in a baby cot or cradle placed near the parents’ bed, to reduce the risk of accidental smothering.

SIDS Awareness Highlighted

Medical experts additionally pointed to the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), an unexplained death of a baby under one year of age, often occurring during sleep. Most SIDS cases are reported between one and four months of age and tend to rise during winter, doctors said.

“Parents should be extremely cautious while sleeping with newborns, especially during cold weather,” Dr Singh added, noting that infants are more vulnerable to accidental smothering.

Infants who die due to SIDS generally show no internal or external injuries that could explain the cause of death, making awareness and preventive measures crucial for parents. The incident has cast a pall over Sihali Jagir village, where the tragedy continues to be a subject of sorrowful discussion.

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