Locations:
Search IconSearch

Is Bed Sharing With a Baby Safe?

Experts recommend having infants sleep in your bedroom but not in your bed

Parent and baby share a room for sleeping.

It’s understandable that parents want to be close to their baby while sleeping at night. But being too close by sharing a bed increases the risk of an infant’s injury or death — a warning emphasized in safe sleep recommendations.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

The solution? Set up your infant as a roommate instead of a bedmate. It’s a distinction that could be lifesaving, explains pediatrician Heidi Szugye, DO, IBCLC. Here’s why.

The risks of bed sharing

There’s nothing subtle about this advice offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): “Never sleep with your baby.”

The AAP recommends that parents not share a bed with their baby. The reason? The risk of a sleep-related infant death while bed sharing is five to 10 times higher during that early stage of life, says Dr. Szugye.

Put simply, an adult bed is not set up with infant safety in mind. Parents can accidentally roll onto their infants when asleep. In addition, pillows, bedding and high and soft mattresses increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or injury or death by:

  • Suffocation.
  • Strangulation.
  • Entrapment.
  • Falls.

Bed sharing is connected to SIDS. There’s no question about it,” says Dr. Szugye. “We don’t recommend it for babies of any age.”

(On a side note, the term “co-sleeping” is often used for bed sharing. However, the phrase is also used to describe the recommended practice of room sharing, which we’ll cover in a moment. Given that, the AAP and many pediatricians avoid the term co-sleeping to avoid confusion.)

Advertisement

What about sleeping on couches and chairs?

Nodding off with a baby while on a couch or soft armchair is even more dangerous than sharing a bed with them. The AAP reports that the risk of a sleep-related infant death may be up to 67 times higher in that situation.

Other risk factors when sleeping with a baby

Sharing a sleep surface with an infant is cause for concern on its own, but the arrangement becomes even more dangerous if the adult is overly fatigued or has been:

  • Drinking alcohol.
  • Using marijuana.
  • Taking medicines or drugs that make you groggy.

“You especially want to avoid bed sharing in any of those situations,” stresses Dr. Szugye.

Are bed-sharing risks higher with some babies?

Absolutely. Sharing a bed with an infant is riskier if the child is younger than 4 months old, says Dr. Szugye. In addition, the risk level rises if your baby was born premature or with a low birth weight.

Room sharing: A safer option

Keeping your baby close while they sleep doesn’t mean they have to be in the same bed, says Dr. Szugye. Instead, consider a “room sharing” approach, where you place your child’s crib or bassinet next to your bed.

This setup allows your baby to be next to you but in their own sleep environment. The AAP reports that room sharing can reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%. (Learn seven ways to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.)

“It’s a nice alternative to bed sharing,” says Dr. Szugye. “It maintains the closeness that can make life easier on parents while letting your baby sleep in a safer space that fits their needs.”

Tips to create a safe sleeping environment for babies

To reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death, the AAP recommends the following:

  • Place babies on their backs to sleep.
  • Babies should sleep in their own space with no other people.
  • Make sure your baby’s crib meets current standards with a mattress that’s firm and flat and fits snugly within the crib.
  • Use only a fitted sheet, and keep loose blankets, pillows or stuffed animals out of the sleep space. (Avoid using padded crib bumpers, too.)
  • Breastfeed, if possible.
  • Avoid smoking.

How common is bed sharing?

Despite the warnings, studies show that bed sharing with babies remains a common practice. In fact, 61% of infant caregivers reported some form of bed sharing with babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Reasons given for bed sharing include:

  • Cultural practices and tradition.
  • Convenience for feeding.
  • Comforting a child who doesn’t feel well.
  • Parent-child bonding.

Deep feelings for bed sharing have made recommendations warning against the practice somewhat controversial. There also are studies showing that bed sharing can promote breastfeeding and help calm infants.

But that doesn’t erase the clear evidence that bed sharing increases the risk of a sleep-related death for babies.

Advertisement

“The recommendation against bed sharing is based upon data,” says Dr. Szugye. “It’s something for parents to consider as they’re making decisions about how to best care for their child.”

To hear more from Dr. Szugye on this topic, listen to the Health Essentials Podcast episode “Babies and Bedtime.” New episodes of the Health Essentials Podcast are available every Wednesday.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Baby being fed from a plastic bottle
September 10, 2024/Children's Health
Baby Bottles 101: Here’s How Many (and What Kind) You Need

Ultimately, the choice depends on what works best for you and your baby, but it’s also important to be aware of the pros and cons of both

Child pulling back the eyelids of a sleeping parent in bed
September 9, 2024/Children's Health
What To Do if Your Child Is Waking Too Early

Set later bedtimes, create nighttime routines and limit long napping to help your early bird establish healthy sleep habits

Teen walking into bathroom at home
September 4, 2024/Children's Health
Kids and Teens Deal With IBS, Too

Pediatric IBS treatment involves making dietary adjustments, getting mental health support and — in some cases — taking prescription medication

Oversized germs and a giant eye with red in the sclera
August 26, 2024/Eye Care
COVID-19 and Pink Eye Are Possibly Connected

Studies have shown an increase in ophthalmic complications as a symptom of COVID-19

Happy elementary school kids smiling, eating lunches at table
August 14, 2024/Children's Health
Building a Healthy Lunch for Students

A well-balanced lunch should include a protein, whole grain, fruit and vegetables, and a healthy snack

Young toddler having an eye examine
August 9, 2024/Eye Care
Eye Spy: Why You Should Test Your Preschooler’s Vision Early

Genetic eye diseases and other conditions that impact your vision can develop in infancy and improve with early treatment

Toddler drinking from a pink cup
July 31, 2024/Children's Health
When and How To Wean Your Baby Off Bottles and Sippy Cups

Ideally, you want your toddler to be drinking from a ‘big kid cup’ by age 2

Child on baseball mound pitching
July 29, 2024/Children's Health
Preventing Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes

Build breaks into training routines to prevent the wear and tear behind repetitive stress

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad