Shared sleeping surfaces linked to high percentage of SIDS deaths
Tuesday, 08 June 2010 00:00
Studies show there is evidence that sharing a sleep surface with a baby increases the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleep accidents.
An average of 46% of infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly in Australia in 2007 died while co-sleeping. Babies who are most at risk of SIDS or sleeping accidents whilst sharing a sleep surface, are babies who are less than four months of age, and babies who are born preterm or small for gestational age.
Most studies show that SIDS deaths attributable to sharing a sleep surface are predominantly amongst babies whose parents smoke. There is a very high risk of infant death and sleeping accidents when a baby shares a sofa or couch with an adult during sleep.
A large-scale published study showed in 2007 that 8.5% of Australian parents bed-share with their babies. A recent unpublished study of new mothers, commissioned in conjunction with Tresillian Family Care Centres, which surveyed 1000 mothers of children aged up to two years old, showed 41% allowed their baby to sleep in their bed with them. It is of concern if co-sleeping is on the increase within Australia.
Leanne Raven, CEO, SIDS and Kids Australia says “SIDS and Kids communicates safe sleeping messages in order to help reduce the number of sudden and unexpected deaths. However, the research shows that we need to be more diligent in our messaging in order to ensure that parents are aware of the risks and equipped to make educated decisions about safe sleeping habits.”
This staggering statistic can be altered by following SIDS and Kids’ safe sleeping recommendations:
- Sleep baby on the back, not on the tummy or side
- Sleep baby with face uncovered
- Avoid exposing babies to tobacco smoke
- Provide a safe cot, mattress and bedding
- Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping environment next to the parent’s bed for the first 6 - 12 months
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