This page was reviewed or revised on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 2:46 PM
Sleep is an important and vital part of an infant’s physical and emotional well-being. One of the most important things to consider with an infant’s sleep is where the child is sleeping and whether the location is safe.
Bed-sharing is common in many countries for various reasons such as developing a secure, physical and emotional setting for the child. However, bed-sharing is not safe and has been linked to unexpected child death. In Ontario, from 2006-2007, 41% of all infant deaths involved unsafe sleeping practices.
Bed-sharing is unsafe. The main reason is that an adult mattress or water bed was not designed with the safety of a child in mind.
No sleeping situation is totally risk free. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that during the first year of life the infant should sleep in their own crib and within the parent’s room for the first 6 months of life. Follow these suggestions to help reduce the risks of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death:
Report of the Paediatric Death Review Committee and Deaths Under Five Committee. [Internet]. Toronto, ON: Office of the Chief Coroner Province of Ontario.; c2008 [cited 2009 Feb 4]. Available from http://www.oacas.org/pubs/external/prdcannualreport08.pdf
Recommendations for Safe Sleeping Environments for Infants and Children. Reaffirmed February 2008. [Internet]. Ottawa, ON: Community Paediatrics Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) c2004 [cited 2008 Aug 11]. Available from http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/cp/cp04-02.htm