Co-sleeping hit the headlines across national media this week, following the news that up to three babies die of suffocation, over-heating or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the UK each week.
The act of co-sleeping (where babies sleep in the same bed as their parents) has been linked to 665 baby deaths over the past five years, according to the most recent data from the Department for Education.
The controversial sleeping arrangement has been the subject of much discussion within the parenting community and nursery industry for some time now, but this is the first time that these figures have been made available.
The Lullaby Trust warns that there are some circumstance where sharing a bed with infants can carry additional risks, with the charity’s Francine Bates urging new mothers and fathers to be mindful of the dangers.
“Some parents choose to share a bed with their baby but we recommend they keep in mind the risk factors,” she says. “The chance of sudden death goes up when bed-sharing if a parent smokes, has drunk alcohol or taken drugs or is very tired.”
Francine adds that the safest way for babies that age to sleep is in their own cot or Moses basket in their parents’ bedroom.
“These statistics are a concern,” says Gail Johnson, an education adviser at the Royal College of Midwives. “Women and their partners need to be aware of the risks around co-sleeping and take steps to minimise them.”
The Lullaby Trust released this press release in direct response to the recent news.
