Allowing infants to sleep in the same bed with their parents can be risky. A new study published in BMJ Open suggests that babies who share a bed with parents are five times more likely to suffer from sudden infant death syndrome. This tragic condition affects infants less than a year old and is the leading cause of death among babies that age. Although it may seem comforting to snuggle a baby back to sleep, they should be put in their own beds on their backs.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a devastating event. Health professionals have debated the causes for decades. When early reports came out suggesting that babies should sleep on their backs (“back to sleep”), some health professionals were skeptical. Over time, however, the data have reinforced that advice and now most pediatricians encourage new parents to put babies to sleep on their backs in their own cribs.
Many parents find it convenient or comforting to have the baby in bed with them, especially if the baby is fussy, crying or hungry. Previous research had shown that if parents smoke, drink alcohol or use illicit drugs, sleeping with the baby increases the risk of SIDS. This new research covered almost 1,500 cases of infant deaths and nearly 4,700 controls. It showed that even parents who don’t smoke, drink or take drugs should avoid taking the baby to bed.
