Mother charged with criminal homicide in the death of her two-month-old son.

This mum was doing what she thought was best for her baby. Sadly in doing so her little one lost his life.

Jessica M. Harper, 28, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with causing the death of her infant after he suffocated while co-sleeping despite repeated warnings, state police wrote in a criminal complaint.

Police said they were called to a home following a report of an infant not breathing and found the child dead on July 12, reports NBC4.

Ms Harper told investigators she placed the boy in her bed and he slept between her and her 3-year-old daughter. When she awoke, she said the baby was not breathing.

An autopsy found the cause of death was asphyxiation.

Police said Ms Harper had another child who died in January 2011 at 2 months old  also by positional asphyxiation.

When her youngest son was born, police said Lancaster General Hospital made Ms Harper read all safety conditions and sign a form that she acknowledged safe sleeping. She also had to watch a video on safe sleeping before she was discharged from the hospital.

Children and Youth advised her of the dangers of co-sleeping on May 20, and when the baby was admitted to a paediatric hospital in June, Ms Harper was again made to watch a video about safe sleeping. Two nurses also spoke to her about the dangers of co-sleeping, the complaint states.

Police wrote that Ms Harper’s paediatrician also repeatedly warned her of the dangers of co-sleeping. Six days before her son died, they said she responded to the repeated warnings by saying she was “going to do it anyway.”

Ms Harper was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

SIDS and Kids recommend how to Sleep your Baby Safely:

1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side

2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered

3. Keep baby smoke free before birth and after

4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day

5. Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first six to twelve months

How can I make co-sleeping safe? via Babycenter
Make sure your mattress is firm
Keep the bedding light and minimal
Never sleep on a sofa with your baby
Keep your baby warm, not hot, and dress him lightly for sleep
Don’t let your baby and toddler sleep next to each other in bed.

When is co-sleeping not safe?
Because of the increased risk of cot death, you shouldn’t co-sleep if:•You or your partner smoke.
•Your baby was premature or had a low birth weight.
•You or your partner have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medication or drugs. This may affect your memory and you could forget that your baby is in your bed and roll over onto him. You may also sleep so soundly that you are unaware that you’ve rolled on to him.
•You are extremely tired, or have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnoea. You may be in such a deep sleep that you don’t wake up if you roll onto your baby.

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Image via NBC4

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