Baby's cot death renews call for awareness

The death of a nine-week-old baby boy in his bassinette in Western Australia has renewed calls for carers to be reminded of safe sleeping practices.

The baby, who can only be referred to as Baby W, was discovered dead on the morning of September 25, 2011 by his foster carer at her home in Stratton in Perth's east.

In handing down an open finding into his death, Deputy State Coroner Evelyn Felicia Vicker said it was impossible to determine whether it was completely natural or if environmental facts were relevant.

But she said it seemed most likely the boy's ability to breathe freely was hampered.

This was possibly due to him being placed on his stomach to sleep or by a very mild respiratory deficiency due to some mild infections.

The inquest heard the boy had been placed in the care of Yorganop Association in July after his biological parents, who had domestic abuse, health and alcohol problems, found they were unable to look after him.

His new carer, Ms Vicker said, provided a "happy, responsive, loving and nurturing environment".

A few days before he died he was immunised and developed a bit of a cough and runny nose but was gurgling and smiling on the day of his death.

Ms Vicker found he was placed on his tummy when he was put to sleep that night and he likely died before midnight.

She was concerned that although Yorganop require their carers to be trained in safe sleep practices, the recent emphasis on the dangers of co-sleeping meant the initial message of the importance of placing babies on their backs may have been forgotten.

"It is essential deaths like that of Baby W are remembered when training anyone with the care of infants as to best practices for safe sleeping in an effort to minimise the trauma and distress caused by these so far, largely unexplained deaths," she said.