Bed‐sharing in the first four months of life: a risk factor for sudden infant death

Abstract

Bed-sharing is a serious risk factor for sudden infant death for all babies of less than 4 months of age. From 4 months onwards bed-sharing did not contribute significantly to the risk of cot death anymore in our study.

Infant Sleep Location: Associated Maternal and Infant Characteristics with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention Recommendations

“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that bedsharing is particularly hazardous if one or both parents smoke. (10,12,16,17) A potential limitation of this study is that data collection occurred in only four cities, although demographic data indicate that infant mortality rates in Dallas, New Haven, Atlanta and Savannah of 6.3, 5.5, 7.1 and 11.0 * deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively, * Infant mortality data available at the public health district level only for Atlanta and Savannah. In conclusion, bedsharing in a low-income population is associated with African-American race and having a teenage mother.…”

“…Despite the fact that bedsharing between an infant and adult facilitates breastfeeding and enhances parent-infant interactions,(6, 7) this sleeping arrangement has been identified in epidemiologic studies as being hazardous in certain situations, particularly when one or both parents are smokers,(8-12) on excessively soft surfaces, such as waterbeds, sofas, and armchairs, (9,10,(13)(14)(15) or when the infant is less than 2-3 months of age. (9,12,(14)(15)(16)(17) In addition, there is an increased risk for sudden unexpected infant death when there are multiple bedsharers(13) and when bedsharing occurs for the entire night. (9, 11) The risk for infant death may also be increased when the bedsharer has consumed alcohol or is overtired.…”

“…(4,5) As the rate of prone positioning has declined, other previously unrecognized risk factors for sudden unexplained infant death have emerged in recent epidemiologic studies. Despite the fact that bedsharing between an infant and adult facilitates breastfeeding and enhances parent-infant interactions, (6,7) this sleeping arrangement has been identified in epidemiologic studies as being hazardous in certain situations, particularly when one or both parents are smokers, (8)(9)(10)(11)(12) on excessively soft surfaces, such as waterbeds, sofas, and armchairs, (9,10,(13)(14)(15) or when the infant is less than 2-3 months of age. (9,12,(14)(15)(16)(17) In addition, there is an increased risk for sudden unexpected infant death when there are multiple bedsharers (13) and when bedsharing occurs for the entire night.…”

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk reduction and infant sleep location – Moving the discussion forward

“…UK researchers confirmed that bed-sharing in combination with smoking was associated with an increased risk of SIDS but found no increase for infants of parents who did not smoke . The Chicago Infant Mortality Study found no interaction between maternal smoking and the risk of SIDS when bed-sharing (Hauck et al 2003), however in the Netherlands bed-sharing was associated with an increased risk for infants under 2 months of age (Ruys et al 2007). …”

Colecho en el hogar, lactancia materna y muerte súbita del lactante. Recomendaciones para los profesionales de la salud. Texto completo

“…20 Algunas publicaciones muestran una asociación entre colecho y la MSL. 21,22 Sin embargo, un estudio realizado en el Reino Unido en el año 2014, en el cual se incluyeron 400 casos de síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante (SMSL) y 1400 controles, no encontró una asociación entre el colecho y la MSL en ausencia de los siguientes factores de riesgo: consumo materno de alcohol, drogas y cigarrillo; prematuros/ bajo peso y cuando alguno de los progenitores dormían junto al bebé en una silla, sillón, hamaca mecedora, sofá, etc. 23 La controversia complejiza las indicaciones del pediatra.…”