Co-Sleeping News: No To Separate Baby Room? Report Suggests Infants Should Share Room With Parents To Lower Risks Of Sleep-Related Deaths

A new study has been published saying that children under the age of one-year-old should share a room with their parents. According to the study, this would lower the risks of sleep-related deaths.

USA Today reported the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is a professional group offering guidance when it comes to child-rearing, released the report on Monday. The report advises that it would be best if newborns share their parents' bedroom instead of sleeping alone in a separate bedroom.

The babies could still sleep on a crib or a bassinet in the room of the parents at least for the first six months but ideally, they noted that it would be ideal if it would reach a full year, CNN reported. Room-sharing reportedly lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50 percent. SIDS is in its highest risk during the first one to four months of infants.

Aside from that, the American Academy of Pediatrics added that the parents should not place their babies on a soft surface like that of a couch or a cushioned chair. They recommended that it would be best to place babies on a firm and bare surface with a tight-fitting bed sheet. There should also be no blankets, soft toys, or pillows on the surface. Sharing a bed with their parents or the so-called co-sleeping setup is also not ideal since the bed is intended for adults and is a soft surface.

It is believed that the baby's brain is not yet developed to regulate proper respiration in soft furniture. This reportedly is a factor in asphyxia or nasal obstruction. In addition, a baby within the reach of their mother may feel more comfort while being around other people is also a form of physical stimulation.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that 3,500 infants die from sleep-related deaths such as SIDS, accidental suffocation, and strangulation in the United States annually. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the room-sharing with parents but did not give the ideal period.