Brook Hunter of Cincinnati has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering children following the death of her newborn baby that she was “co-sleeping” with, according to FOX19. Co-sleeping is described to be a practice when the parent shares a bed with their baby, and in this case, Hunter decided to sleep next to her six-week-old child, which resulted in their death on June 22.
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office in Ohio said the incident was categorized as a homicide because just one year prior, Hunter had co-slept with her first child who also died the exact same way, during which time she was issued with a warning that sharing a bed with a baby is extremely dangerous. But apparently, Hunter ignored the cautious remarks and will now have to face serious consequences for her actions.
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A warrant had been issued for Hunter’s arrest on Wednesday and remains active as law enforcement officers are still looking for her. A photo from Hunter’s previous arrest has since been shared with the media in hopes that someone may have further information on her current whereabouts.
Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is heavily advised that parents should never sleep with their infant in the same bed, strongly suggesting that the baby should be placed in a crib. Furthermore, there’s a much higher risk in sleep-related deaths pertaining small babies, particularly if they are younger than four months old, and neglecting this warning would ultimately put the person at risk of potentially harming their child — even if it was considered an accident.
“If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, place them in their own sleep space when you’re ready to go to sleep,” the AAP writes on their website. The company updated their to their guidelines back in June when they added that babies should sleep on their backs until they reach one year of age, and that parents should consider using a firm, flat, non-inclined sleep surface covered by a fitted sheet with no other beddings to minimize the chances of suffocation or wedging.
“It is recommended that infants sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for at least the first 6 months.”