In November 2016, AAP updated their recommendations for safe sleep in infants. One of these safety measures advocates against bed-sharing as it poses in increased risk for fatal sleeping accidents.
Our job as pediatricians is to guide our families. Below you will find a list of recommendations for safe sleep.
Room sharing (not bed-sharing)
- Supine position exclusively for every sleep (including naps) until age 1 year or until the infant can roll unassisted, back and forth.
- Firm sleep surface with thin fitted sheet
- No soft items that could pose strangulation, suffocation, and entrapment risks in sleeping area, such as toys, pillows, crib bumpers, and positioners.
- Avoid overheating of infants by adding too many layers of clothing. Use no more than 1 layer over what an adult would wear in the same environment.
- Room-share with the infant up to at least 6 months of age, but infants should not bed-share, which includes sleeping in the bed, couches or chair with parents.