Parents are being urged to make sure their babies sleep safely in light of several unexpected deaths.

The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Strategic Child Death Overview Panel has found co-sleeping, sleeping position or the surface babies sleep on may have been in factor in a number of deaths across the county in recent months.

Essex Safeguarding Children Board is re-launching its Safer Sleep for Babies campaign, which advises parents to keep their babies on their backs, with their feet to the foot of the cot, on a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.

It also advises putting them in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as their parents for the first six months, breastfeed if possible and ensure babies are not in an environment where people are smoking.

It advises people to never sleep on an armchair or sofa with a baby and parents who smoke, drink or take drugs should not sleep in the same bed with a baby.

Ensure tots do not get too hot and do not use loose bedding or cover their head or face while sleeping Simon Hart, independent chair of the ESCB, said: “If we can educate people about the dangers of poor sleeping conditions, and prevent just one more tragic death, the campaign will be worth it.”

Mike Gogarty, Chair of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Strategic Child Death Overview Panel said: “The death of a child is always tragic and too many sudden and unexpected deaths occur because of co-sleeping, incorrect sleeping position and surface.

"These tragic deaths could be easily avoided by following safe sleeping advice for babies during all nap times not just night time.”