Around the world, it is common to have parents sleeping with their children, and this trend is gaining popularity in the United States as well. In fact, the number of infants younger than 7 months old who usually slept with an adult grew from 5.5 percent to 12.8 percent from 1993 to 2000, according to BabyCenter.com. Although co-sleeping has many potential benefits, it also can be dangerous or even fatal.
Suffocation or Strangulation
On average, about 64 deaths of babies younger than age 2 occur as a result of sleeping in an adult bed, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study published in the October 1999 issue of the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine." The commission conducted a review of accidental deaths that were associated from co-sleeping from January 1990 to December 1997. Out of the 515 deaths that occurred, 121 occurred as a result of a parent, caregiver or sibling rolling on top of the baby while sleeping. The other 394 deaths occurred as a result of suffocation or strangulation from becoming entrapped between the mattress, bed frame, headboard, footboard, bed railing or adjacent walls or furniture.
Increased Risk of SIDS
Infants who co-sleep with their parents also have a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome, commonly referred to as SIDS. To reduce the risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be placed on their backs in a crib on a firm surface that is free of any bedding, pillows or other soft objects. Adult beds typically have soft mattresses, soft bedding and plenty of bedding which increases the risk of SIDS.
Sleep Issues
Although perhaps not as serious as the safety concerns, many infants may have sleep disrupted more frequently during co-sleeping. Movement or noise from others in the bed may cause the baby to awaken more frequently than he would if he was sleeping alone in a crib. Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect the baby's growth and development. Parents who sleep with their children may also find that the quality of sleep they get is diminished. Children who are allowed to co-sleep may also find it difficult to sleep on their own when they are older.
Considerations
While the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against allowing a baby to sleep with parents in an adult bed, the risk of SIDS is actually reduced when babies are in close proximity to the parents. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep a crib or bassinet in their room next to the bed. This allows infants to be close enough to reap many of the benefits of co-sleeping, including making breast-feeding more convenient and keeping the baby in close proximity to the parents, while minimizing safety risks to the infant.
References
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; CPSC Warns Against Placing Babies in Adult Beds; September 1999
- American Academy of Pediatrics; The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome...; John Kattwinkel, et al.; November 2005
- March of Dimes; Sleeping with Your Baby; October 2009
- BabyCenter: Sleep-Sharing: The Family Bed
- KidsHealth.org; Cosleeping and Your Baby; Mary Gavin; May 2008
