Bed-sharing with parents puts baby in risk for SIDS

An infant has a fivefold increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when they share their bed with their parents, according to an analysis.

An infant has a fivefold increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when they share their bed with their parents, according to an analysis.

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The authors of this analysis estimate that around 88% of all SIDS deaths while bed sharing would not have occurred if it had been avoided.

The results show that even when neither parent smoked, and the baby was less than 3 months old, breastfed and the mother did not drink or take drugs, the risk of SIDS was five times higher than if the baby had slept in a cot next to their parents’ bed.