Government figures show that babies born under 2.5kg are five times more likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than those with a normal birth weight.
The FSID is calling on public health campaigners and children’s professionals to ensure parents of underweight babies are among key targets for cot death awareness campaigns.
Advice for parents includes quitting smoking and ensuring babies sleep on their backs.
FSID chief executive Francine Bates said: "It’s well known that parental smoking increases a baby’s risk of cot death but babies who are born underweight are also an extremely vulnerable group, particularly during the first month of life, so it’s vital that their parents are given advice on how to reduce their risk."
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