Sharing beds with infants is one of the leading causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is an infant unexpected death, which cannot be predicted by scientific history. The syndrome is known to have a higher risk during an infant’s sleep. SIDS was the third primary cause of infant mortality in the United States in 2011. Even though the cause of SIDS is unidentified, some factors such as bottle feeding and the mother’s intake of illegal drugs and alcohol have been known to increase the risk of the fatal syndrome. When sharing a bed with parents, the risk of SIDS increases by five fold, especially babies younger than three months.
- Co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS
- photo credit:CBC
Sleeping with parents for infants is a significant risk source during the first 15 weeks even without any other danger factors such as being exposed to second hand smoking. But this risk is increased to a great extent if either parent is a smoker. Other possible suggested risks may occur when the adult accidentally roll over onto a sleeping infant and the parents’ body heat may not be the suitable temperature for the baby. On the other hand, there is a benefit of an infant sleeping with their parents. It promotes breathing control and enhances mutual awareness between parents and infants. Nonetheless, when infants are put to sleep in the same bed as their parents, there is a great amount of risk and there should be a high level of precaution. Parents or parents to be should possess a sufficient amount of knowledge regarding this syndrome.
Some researchers recommend sleeping in a crib for an infant. Photo Credit:CBC
References
Hoyert DL, Xu JQ (2012). “Deaths: Preliminary data for 2011”.National vital statistics reports. (National Center for Health Statistics) 61(6): 8.
