A mother charged with killing her infant while co-sleeping in 2018 pleaded guilty last week to culpable negligence before a court in West Palm Beach, Florida. Genna Aaronson, 33, was reportedly told by a doctor not to co-sleep with her 5-week-old son, Clarke, but just one week later, she did — and when she awoke, her son was dead. Now, as her story continues to make headlines, it's serving as a tragic warning to other parents about the potential danger of bed-sharing.
The incident happened on January 5, 2018, shortly after Aaronson placed her 5-week-old in her bed to go to sleep.
Jacksonville.com reported that Aaronson had fed Clarke before he fell asleep and then fell asleep herself while watching a movie on her smartphone.
But six hours later, she would wake to the horrifying sounds of her husband's screams. Clarke was unresponsive, and he had turned blue. The mom called 911 and police rushed the boy to Palms West Hospital, where he was declared dead, according to WPBF.
A medical examiner later ruled the cause of death “positional asphyxia,” meaning the boy suffocated to death, Jacksonville.com reports.
This wasn't the only co-sleeping incident the Aaronsons faced in Clarke's short life, though.
The mom later told police that she and her husband had been alternating nights sleeping in the master bed with their newborn “since the day he was born.” But on December 31, 2017, just days before his death, Clarke had another co-sleeping accident that almost resulted in serious injury.
The boy had fallen out of his father Peter's arms and onto a tile floor while sharing a bed. The parents only took the boy to the pediatrician days later on January 2, 2018, where the doctor warned the parents against co-sleeping. But it seemed the parents didn't heed the doctor's warnings. Peter later told police that their son had cried for only a minute after he fell from the bed, and a CT scan didn't show any injuries.
“Yet despite this, his parents continued to allow him to co-sleep with them,” a Florida Department of Children and Families report stated. “Both parents were responsible for allowing him to sleep in an unsafe situation which ultimately caused his death.”
Genna was arrested and charged with manslaughter February 13, 2019. Police determined they had enough evidence to make the arrest, because Genna had placed Clarke in “circumstances which led directly to [his] death.” They also argued that the couple had shown “gross and flagrant disregard” for their son, choosing to have him sleep in their bed instead of a bassinet, which they also had in their home.
In exchange for a guilty plea, Genna will receive no jail time and a lesser charge.
The Palm Beach Post reports that by the time of her trial date on August 20, Genna had taken parenting classes, completed 300 hours of community service, and followed a mental-health treatment plan. Standing before a judge, she pleaded guilty to culpable negligence and an adjudication had also been withheld in her case — meaning she was not formally convicted.
Authorities who searched the couple's home said they also found marijuana paraphernalia and a vape pen, although neither parent faces any drug-related charges.
In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines for safe sleeping, which included a strong warning against bed-sharing with babies.
"We know that parents may be overwhelmed with a new baby in the home, and we want to provide them with clear and simple guidance on how and where to put their infant to sleep," academy fellow Dr. Rachel Moon said at the time. "Parents should never place the baby on a sofa, couch, or cushioned chair, either alone or sleeping with another person. We know that these surfaces are extremely hazardous."
Parents are, however, encouraged to room share with children younger than 6 months, which has been found to decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent. In those cases, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends having a separate safe sleeping space in the parent's room, such as a portable bassinet or crib.
