A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has sparked a lively debate about co-sleeping with infants. While it highlights that sharing a bed can facilitate breastfeeding, it also warns of increased risks, particularly Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently advises parents to keep infants in the same room in a separate crib or bassinet instead of sharing a bed to minimize SIDS risks. Alarmingly, around 2,500 infants in the U.S. succumb to SIDS each year.
Led by Dr. Sarah Jensen from the University of New Hampshire, this research was motivated by the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the U.S. According to the CDC, only 16% of babies are exclusively breastfed for the first six months. To investigate this, Jensen and her team examined data from a sizable infant feeding study, focusing on 2,000 mothers who were breastfeeding when their babies were two weeks old. The mothers were surveyed ten times during the first year, answering questions about their breastfeeding status and whether they were co-sleeping with their babies.
The findings revealed that nearly 45% of new mothers engaged in bed-sharing at two weeks postpartum, with 30% still doing so at one year. On average, mothers breastfed for about seven months, and those who co-slept tended to nurse longer. By the one-year mark, over half of the mothers who bed-shared were still breastfeeding, compared to only a third of those who did not share a bed with their babies.
What Makes Bed-Sharing Appealing?
So, what makes bed-sharing appealing for some moms? Convenience is a significant factor. Jensen noted, “Having the baby right there makes it much easier for moms to feed through the night without getting up.”
Is Co-Sleeping Safe?
However, the question remains: Is co-sleeping safe? The answer is both yes and no. “We see evidence that bed-sharing supports breastfeeding, but we still don’t recommend it due to the risks of SIDS,” Jensen cautioned. The AAP advises parents against bed-sharing, especially if they’ve consumed alcohol or are extremely fatigued—circumstances that many new parents face regularly. Instead, they recommend keeping the baby’s crib or bassinet in the same room for the first six months.
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Conclusion
In summary, co-sleeping has both advantages and disadvantages. While it may support breastfeeding, parents should be aware of the potential risks it poses, especially concerning SIDS. The best practice remains having the baby sleep in a separate crib or bassinet within the same room.
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