A COUPLE whose six-month daughter died suddenly are warning other parents about cot death.

Mia Horsfield was discovered in her cot on Saturday, February 25 by her parents, Paul Horsfield and Kelly Riley, at their home in Canterbury Drive, Bury.

It is believed she suffered sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death.

Miss Riley, aged 19, said: “I was already aware of SIDS because there is a history of it in my family. It was one of my worst fears. We did everything we could to prevent it, but Mia still died.”

Mr Horsfield, aged 22, added: “We have no emotions at all. We just feel numb.”

The couple, who have been together for five years, hope to set up a charity to help other families affected by SIDS.

Miss Riley said: “SIDS doesn’t have a reason and no one knows what causes it. When you lose a child, you want to know what happened.

“We want to raise money to support other families and to fund research to find out more about it.”

Mia was a healthy, happy baby, who loved Mickey Mouse and playing with her two-year-old sister, Katie.

She said her first word “mama” three weeks before she died, followed a week later by “dada”.

Miss Riley said: “Mia was a very smiley baby. She was always laughing and babbling to herself.

“Having a baby in the house was great. It made our family feel whole.”

Her devastated parents are now trying to come to terms with Mia’s death and a funeral was held at Bury Cemetery last week.

They are putting together a memory box, which includes her favourite song, toys and a lock of her hair, to remember their “sleeping beauty”.

he cause of cot death is not known, but Mia’s parents have discovered research suggesting a link between routine injections and SIDS. Mia had received injections 10 days earlier.

Cot death warnings from Foundation For The Study Of Infant Deaths (FSID): • Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side)

• Cut smoking in pregnancy — dads too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby

• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months

• Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered

• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair

It’s dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed if you (or your partner): • are a smoker (even if you never smoke in bed or at home)

• have been drinking alcohol

• take medication or drugs that make you drowsy

• feel very tired

• if your baby was premature (born before 37 weeks)

• if your baby was low birth weight (less than 2.5kg or 51/2lb)

• if your baby is less than four-months-old.