An autopsy conducted on a one-month-old baby in Gozo on Sunday confirmed it was a cot death.

The baby was found lifeless in a Ghajnsielem residence by her parents, a Ghanaian man and a Nigerian woman, who called an ambulance but by the time it arrived the baby was already dead. The baby was certified dead at the Gozo General Hospital.

Statistics show that cot deaths are rare in Malta, 2008 being the last time a death of this sort occurred. Two cases were reported in 1999, one in 2006 and two in 2008.

Cot death, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently well infant.

Parents should never allow babies to sleep in bed alongside them due to the risk of cot death, according to the Malta Paediatric Association’s website.

Although it is not known exactly what causes cot death, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.

The association advises that a baby should be placed on his/her back to sleep, not on their front or side while it also recommends that grandparents and other caregivers should be told to always place the baby to sleep on the back.

The association states that for the first six months, “the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot is in your bedroom”.

“A cot should have a firm mattress covered with a cotton sheet; and soft bedding under the baby avoided.”

Another precaution is to avoid letting your baby get too hot, and if sweating is noticed, this is a sign that the baby is becoming overheated. Other symptoms include damp hair, flushed cheeks or a heat rash.

“Parents should dress the baby lightly for sleep and the room temperature set in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.

“One should also avoid using duvets, quilts or thick blankets and one should refrain from smoking near the baby," the association warns.