Infant bed-sharing: supporting parents to make an informed decision.
The practice of infant bed-sharing remains controversial in countries such as the UK and the US, despite its prevalence, and healthcare professionals are often faced with the task of advising parents on bed-sharing without the support of consistent or up-to-date guidelines. This article explores UK and US recommendations on infant bed-sharing, considering the existing evidence. The possible relationship between infant bed-sharing and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is explored, alongside other factors that may be linked to SIDS. Areas where further research is required are identified and appropriate resources are provided, with a view to empowering healthcare professionals to support parents in making an informed and proactive decision about infant bed-sharing.
University of Oxford, Oxford, England.
Layla
L
Lavallee
Center for Clinical Investigation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
Meredith
M
Scannell
SIDS; bed-sharing; co-sleeping; infant bed-sharing; infant bonding; infant safety; paediatrics; postnatal care; sudden infant death syndrome