MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Milwaukee officials are stepping up their campaign to get parents to stop sleeping with their babies.

At least 8 infants in Milwaukee have died this year because their parents crushed them while sleeping on beds or couches. Tuesday, the city placed 36 mattresses on 2 north side streets to make their point. Each mattress has the orange outline of a baby, along with a sharp message that discourages co-sleeping.

One message reads, “Babies who sleep here don’t always wake up.” Another said “Imagine how many babies would still be alive if they slept in a crib.”

Common Council President Willie Hines says people might find the displays disturbing – and he hopes they do, so it gets their attention. He said bed-sharing kills, and we must do everything possible to protect kids. Milwaukee normally has about 2 dozen co-sleeping deaths each year.