Bed sharing or co-sleeping is not safe and can increase the risk of SIDS. These terms mean the baby shares the same sleeping surface with another adult or child. This is not safe because:
- An adult or child can roll over on to the baby
- The baby can get caught between the sleep surface and the body of an adult or child, or a wall
- Adult sleep surfaces usually have soft bedding which can increase the risk of suffocation1
Items that further increase the risk of infant death while bed sharing:
- Smoking
- Alcohol or drugs
- Extreme tiredness
- A soft sleep surface
- Lying on a water bed, sofa or armchair
- Sharing a sleep surface with more than one person or with a pet
Parents frequently fall asleep with their infants while breastfeeding. It is safer to breastfeed in bed rather than on a couch or chair if feeling tired. The infant should be placed back in a crib, cradle, or bassinet once the parent awakens.
