Parents should be discouraged from having their babies sleeping in the bed with them, according to guidelines published today.
The advice comes in guidelines produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, aimed at preventing cot death.
It says health professionals should advise parents of the evidence linking co-sleeping with baby deaths.
Professor Mike Baker, of NICE, said parents should understand the risks.
He said: “There is no universal agreement on the causes of sudden infant death syndrome.
“We recognise that some parents may choose to share a bed with their baby because it could make breastfeeding easier, or for cultural reasons. Or they may be forced to co-sleep because they may not have the space or money for a cot.”
The Royal College of Midwives welcomed the guidance.
Jane Munro, from the college, said: "The sudden death of a child is a tragic event for the parents and family and it is clear that parents need to understand any potential risks.
"We welcome updating this guidance, particularly because it highlights the importance of health professionals discussing potential risks of co-sleeping with families.
"Midwives and other health professionals need to have enough time to discuss these important issues with families.”
Leave a Reply