WHEN a seemingly healthy baby dies without warning, the shattered parents are left with one question: why?

Often there is no answer. A specific cause is detected in fewer than half of the cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or cot death as it is better known.

For all our medical advances, no one knows why babies still die in their sleep. It is only because infant mortality rates have reduced so substantially in the last century that these deaths have become a matter of comment and research.

This lack of knowledge is a dangerous thing. All manner of "expert" theories have rushed to fill the gap.

The bereaved mother is too easily blamed, or blames herself. Arrogant attempts by doctors to solve the mystery have demonised some mothers with calamitous results: just ask Sally Clark, Angela Cannings and Donna Anthony, all jailed after being wrongly convicted of killing their children.

Every mother-to-be is now bombarded with advice. Katie Glen was told to breastfeed lying down. After a feed she fell asleep and awoke to find her baby, Annabel, had stopped breathing.

Katie must not blame herself for a tragedy without explanation. However, she is right to question the mystifying array of guidance directed at exhausted and vulnerable new mums.

The most reliable information on cot death comes from the Foundation For The Study Of Sudden Infant Deaths Syndrome, which we reproduce tonight. Mothers can trust that advice - and their own instincts.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, November 04, 2005