Erin Piche-Pitts' first child Angelina died in her bed at 13 days of age of asphyxia "due to probably overlay and co-sleeping" in December 2009, in what police ruled was an accidental suffocation.
Before being released from Winter Haven Women's Hospital in the city of Winter Haven, Florida, after the birth of her second son Javier on September 18, 2016, Piche-Pitts was given information about properly caring for her baby, including the dangers of co-sleeping, WFLA reported.
Three days later she took her newborn for a routine check-up and the baby's physician, who was aware of her first baby's death, spoke to her to ensure she did not sleep in the same bed with Javier.
Piche-Pitts is alleged to have said that it would not happen.
Piche-Pitts' mother told investigators that she, too, had conversations with her about being more cautious with the new baby, Fox 13 reported.
However, on October 6, Piche-Pitts was awakened by Javier's cries. She told investigators that she picked him up from a bassinet, made formula in a bottle and went to bed with him.
She propped him up with a pillow, nestling his head in the crook of her arm.
Then she fell asleep. Two-and-a-half hours later, a Polk County sheriff's affidavit states, Piche-Pitts' woke up "in a panic".
Javier had vomited and was unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at 18 days of age at Winter Haven Hospital.
When investigators interviewed Piche-Pitts about the baby's death, according to the affidavit, she said, "It happened again."
Polk County Sheriff's office launched an investigation and Piche-Pitts was arrested on Tuesday.
"I've seen these cases before," Sheriff Grady Judd said on Wednesday.
"The first one is a horrible, tragic event in life. The second is a horrible, tragic loss of life of an infant, but she was irresponsible, and as a result, she's got two dead babies. It's time for her to go to prison."
Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that Piche-Pitts had been spoken to numerous times by medical professionals since the birth of Javier about the dangers of co-sleeping and that she had assured them on every occasion that she would not sleep with Javier.
"This lady doesn't get it," said Sheriff Judd.
"Because of her recklessness and her disregard for the law, her second baby is dead," he said. "Neither one of them had to die."
America's Academy of Pediatrics recommends that (a baby should) "share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns one but at least for the first six months."