Bed Sharing vs. Room Sharing

There is scientific evidence that sharing a bed or a sleep surface with a baby increases the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents. Therefore CFSID does not recommend bed sharing with babies but does recommend sleeping babies in a crib or other separate sleeping surface next to the parent’s bed for the first six to twelve months of life.

Bedsharing means sleeping on the same surface with your baby. Some parents refer to this practice at co-sleeping. 

There is a very high risk of SIDS when a baby shares a sofa or couch with an adult while sleeping.

Adult beds are not designed with infant safety in mind.

Bed sharing must be avoided when:

· the baby shares the sleep surface with a smoker

· there is adult bedding, duvets or pillows

· the baby can be trapped between the wall and the bed, can fall out of bed or is rolled on

· the parent is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that cause extreme drowsiness.

· the baby is sharing sleep surfaces with other children or pets

· the baby is placed to sleep on a sofa, beanbag, waterbed or sagging mattress

· the baby is younger than four months of age or is premature or small for gestational age.

For Bed Sharing research. (Used with permission) Bedsharing.pdf

Room Sharing 

Sharing a bedroom with your baby for at least the first six months is known to reduce the risk of SIDS and is the best option for creating a safe sleep environment.

Always on my Back in my own Crib. Having the crib next to your bed is a great spot, allowing you to easily check on baby during the night, provide ease for breastfeeding and offers parents piece of mind.

Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS.

There is no evidence that use of monitors decreases the incidence of SIDS. Also, there is no evidence that in-hospital monitoring of the baby’s breathing or heart will show which babies are at increased risk of SIDS.