The topic of cosleeping hit the headlines last week once again following a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ article.)

Reports were mixed, with the BBC news using soundbites from FSID to berate parents for ‘ignoring advice’ not to bedshare. Meanwhile, The Telegraph carried the headline, ‘Sharing a bed with a baby does not increase risk of cot death, research shows’.

The Guardian goes one step further to argue that the ’science’ is being badly misinterpreted and used to demonise parents.

So what is the truth? Well, the BMJ study doesn’t tell us much we don’t already know. Their conclusion is as follows:

Many of the SIDS infants had coslept in a hazardous environment. The major influences on risk, regardless of markers for socioeconomic deprivation, are amenable to change and specific advice needs to be given, particularly on use of alcohol or drugs before cosleeping and cosleeping on a sofa.

The problem we have in finding the truth is that none of the big cosleeping studies have separated out those bedsharing safely with their babies (no drugs or alcohol for parents and a safe space for baby, free from pillows and excess covers) from those who have fallen asleep on a sofa, possibly in a drunken or overtired state.

Consistently, studies have found the vast majority of ‘cosleeping’ deaths have been sofa-sleepers, where the baby has been smothered or suffocated whilst sharing a sofa with a parent. These really aren’t true SIDS or cot death cases as there is a clear cause of death. Similarly, we know that smoking and alcohol consumption in parents are linked to incidents of SIDS.

There is no evidence that planned bedsharing is in any way harmful.

What we DO know however is that the original study which FSID quote repeatedly and which was aimed at finding a link to cosleeping and SIDS was funded in a large part by the JPMA – The Juvenile Product Manufacturers’ Association who described themselves:

JPMA is a national trade organization representing 95% of the prenatal to preschool industry. Today, JPMA represents 250 companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who manufacture, import and/or distribute infant products such as cribs, car seats, strollers, bedding, and a wide range of accessories and decorative items.

Hardly an uninterested party. Though none of these studies have actually proven any link to bedsharing and SIDS, the party line is still not to bedshare.

Fortunately, a few voices of reason have spoken up. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Chief Executive, Belinda Phipps has said, “The findings sound extremely significant. We are really pleased to see that evidence about the safety of co-sleeping is building, because we know it improves breastfeeding rates. We also know a lot of parents prefer to do it but feel guilty because they are unsure about the risks”. (The Telegraph, 2009)

Similarly, Dr Peter Blair from UNICEF has said, “This study shows that it is not co-sleeping that is unsafe, but the circumstances under which some parents co-sleep that create risks”.

So why is this so important to parents?

Well, we know that half of parents bedshare at least once in the first six months. A quarter of parents bedshare regularly. Many are made to feel guilty about it. This guilt is mired in the belief of FSID that it is better to tell parents never to cosleep at all rather than expect them to understand a few common sense precautions. Yet this sledgehammer approach is dangerous because bedsharing carries considerable, known benefits.

• Bedsharing supports the breastfeeding relationship between mother and infant. Mothers who bedshare are more likely to feed on demand and continue feeding for longer. Proximity of the baby helps the mother produce prolactin which keeps milk supply high.
• Bedsharing is comforting, normal and natural. Most other cultures outside the US and UK bedshare, many with very low incidences of SIDS. The practice was discouraged by the Victorians. Babies aren’t designed to be alone.
• It’s easy! No getting out of bed to fetch and feed the baby.
• It’s safe. Feeding then falling asleep on the sofa isn’t.
• There is evidence bedsharing can help regulate the baby’s breathing, temperature and heart rate as well as reduce stress hormones.
• It may mean a much better night’s sleep for mum and baby. A known factor in decreasing postnatal depression.
• A secure baby with a close maternal attachment is likely to not suffer separation anxiety, so is more likely be a secure, independent, happy child.

Deborah Jackson’s book Three in a Bed was a groundbreaking book on the benefits of bedsharing. It’s a great read for parents wanting to know more on the subject. I am a strong believer in bedsharing and am sharing with #3. #1 and #2 moved on to their own bed cheerfully when they were ready.

There are just a few common sense guidelines:

• Avoid drinking, drugs or cigarettes if you are bedsharing.
• Make a safe space for the baby… no pillows or excess covers, no cracks they can get wedged in.
• Don’t cosleep on the sofa

Is there anything nicer than seeing your baby’s face grinning back at you when you wake up?