South Yorkshire Times  January 20, 1933

Deaf to Advice

Babies Should Sleep In Cots

A Goldthorpe Death

A verdict of death from natural causes was returned at the inquest on Saturday on Betty Jordan, the five weeks old daughter of Stanley Jordan, of Lyndale Gardens, Goldthorpe.

The child died from bronchial pneumonia while in bed with her mother, and Stanley Jordan was advised to provide a cot for his children. The inquest was conducted by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile).

Stanley Jordan said the baby died on Thursday morning after it had been morning also the night. He intended going for the doctor as soon as it was like, but the child was then dead. He added that his other three children slept with the mother when they were very young.

The Coroner: Haven’t you ever been told of the danger?

Witness: Yes, sir. I have been told it was best to have a cot.

Why didn’t you provide one, then?

I thought it was best for them to sleep with their mother when they were so very young.

That is just the time these should not sleep with them. It has been preached time and again that babies should not be in bed with their parents. It doesn’t seem to have much effect on people’s minds. Hundreds of children are lost through sleeping with their parents and they seem to take no notice of it. It is my duty to point this out to you. Until this is made a punishable offence no one will take any notice.

Florence Hill, certified midwife, High Street, Goldthorpe, said she attended Mrs Jackson and warned of the danger of having the baby in bed with her. She had told her where she could get a cot. She usually worn most mother she attended, though not invariably. The reply she usually received was that they could not afford a cot.

The coroner recommended that she should warn every mother she attended. The expense of not been able to afford a cot was no excuse at all. A cot could be made for a few coppers.

Doctor J.F. Tulloch said death was due to pneumonia of acute time. There was a lot of it about the present time, chiefly among young children. He agreed with the Coroner that it was best to have a cot though he added a baby could smother itself in a cot on occasions.