Every year, dozens of infants in Milwaukee County die. They weren't sick, mistreated or unloved.

Despite all the warnings and the time and money spent trying to prevent it, the numbers will shock you.

"What we found is when we go back, this has been going on for a long time," said Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, Dr. Christopher Happy.

The bottom line: babies in every corner of Milwaukee County die while co-sleeping -- sleeping in bed with someone else.

Greg and Niki Neal's wounds won't ever fully heal.

"It's a pain that you have to learn how to live with, because it's not going to go away," said Niki. "You can't change it."

In 2004, the Neal's daughter, Isley, died in her sleep. She was just seven weeks old.

"It's very scary to wake up and your child is no longer there," Greg said. "The first thing you blame is yourself."

Isley had an undiagnosed heart condition. Her death was a terrible tragedy impossible to prevent.

"Our daughter wasn't even in our room," Greg Neal explained. "She was in her own room."

"It was horrific," added Niki.

Now, the Neal's say their hearts break every time they hear about the death of any baby.

"These are the most emotionally taxing cases," said Dr. Happy.

Happy is in the middle of a full scale review of more than 200 infant deaths in Milwaukee County over the last several years. The goal: identify the specific circumstances surrounding each death, and the specific risk factors.

"I think it's about time that we've all started to look at these and recognize that a lot of these are preventable," said Happy.

Maybe most preventable, between 2007, and 2008, the ME's office found 51 infants, with no known health problems, who died while sleeping.

Thirty-eight of those deaths, nearly 75%, involved co-sleeping, mostly on adult beds and couches.

"It's devastating," said Anna Benton, Director of Family and Community Health Services at the City of Milwaukee Health Department.

Benton implores parents to make better choices.

"I truly believe once parents have that information, once they have the facts and they understand that it really can be that dangerous, they'll make the right decision," said Benton.

Benton says the only right decision is for parents to put their babies to sleep in cribs or portable Pack 'N' Plays -- alone. Ignoring any outside pressure.

"Even if that's what grandma did, that's not what I'm going to do, Mom," said Benton. "This is my baby and I'm going to do it differently."

Another startling find, of those 51 infant deaths, the ME can prove 11 died from suffocation. Ten of those deaths, more than 90%, involved co-sleeping.

Then, there are the 40 SIDS cases, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, where the ME cannot identify a specific cause of death. However, a review of those SIDS deaths found 28, that's 70%, involved co-sleeping.

"It's never too late to so start to try to institute preventative measures," said Dr. Happy.

Sentiments like that are why Abby Collier and the Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin are pushing for similar child death reviews statewide.

"A death is a community tragedy," said Collier. We owe it to the child to learn from their death to prevent it from happening again."

Using all those numbers to target their efforts.

"Really, the goal is to keep our kids alive and safe," said Collier.

The Neals' plea is more personal.

"You have to realize that if you just do what is asked of you, at least then, you know you've made all the precautionary steps, and if something happens it happens," said Niki Neal.

But as long as co-sleeping related deaths do happen, those on the front lines say they'll keep fighting to stop it.

"We don't have any other choice," explained Anna Benton. "This is what we need to do. We can't just put our heads in the sand and ignore the problem and hope it will get better by itself."

Keep in mind, these co-sleeping-related deaths happened in the city and the suburbs, to families of all races and economic situations. There are resources out there for parents who want to learn more.

The city of Milwaukee Health Department even offers free Pack 'N" Plays to parents who can't afford a proper crib. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

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