A doctor is warning Love Island viewers about the risk of cot death after the show's parenting challenge exposed contestants' lack of knowledge.

More than two million people watched Love Island the night of the parenting challenge, in which the couples were each given a pretend baby to look after.

Some of the couples stepped up and showed how nurturing they could be while others ripped the arms off their toy babies and couldn't really connect.

However, when it came to bedtime, the contestants could be seen covering the babies in loose blankets, which can be a cause of cot death.

Dr Eran Elhaik, who researches cot death at the University of Sheffield, explained to MailOnline that loose sheets are a choking hazard and can cause babies to overheat, which both increase the risk of the condition.

Cot death, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), kills around 300 babies in the UK every year.

It usually occurs within the first six months of an infant's life and is more common in those born prematurely or of a low birth weight.

The cause of SIDS is unknown, however, it is associated with tobacco smoke, tangled bedding, co-sleeping with parents and breathing obstructions.

Prevent the risk by:

Placing sleeping babies on their backs

Keeping babies' heads uncovered

Sleeping in the same room as babies for the first six months of their lives

Using a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in babies' cribs

Breastfeeding, if possible

Do not:

Smoke during pregnancy or in the same room as a baby

Sleep on a bed or chair with an infant

Allow babies to get too hot or cold. Temperatures between 16 and 20C should be comfortable