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Sharing a Bed With Baby Carries Risks Sleeping in the same room--but separately--is best Sharing a bed with your spouse may be a no-brainer. But when it comes to you and your newborn, choosing to sleep apart makes good sense--for your baby's safety and for your own peace of mind. Pediatrician Vijaya Reddy, M.D., understands that many parents--especially breast-feeding moms--enjoy the closeness and convenience of sleeping with their babies. But she advises parents that sharing a bed can be risky for infants. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), bed-sharing may raise the risk of accidental suffocation or other injury. In 2005, the AAP's Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Task Force revised its policy statement on SIDS and a baby's sleeping environment. The AAP now advises against bed sharing-- recommending that infants sleep in an approved crib or bassinet close to the parents' bed in the same room. Studies show that when the infant sleeps near, but separate, from the mother, the risk of SIDS drops. "I also caution parents about the use of bedding material," says Dr. Reddy. "Studies have shown that putting a baby to bed on soft, sagging surfaces, such as pillows, water beds or couches, can cause breathing difficulties and raise the odds of SIDS." This risk is even greater if infants sleep on their stomachs. "Babies should always be placed on their back on a firm mattress when going to sleep." Infants can also suffocate if they roll into tight spaces between the bed and the wall, headboard or footboard. Then there is the risk of babies being injured if a parent should accidentally roll over onto them while asleep. The AAP notes that if you smoke, take sedating drugs, or sleep deeply, your bed is an especially dangerous place for a baby. Even if you get rid of those risks, SIDS can still strike--because doctors don't know just how it happens. Many now think that some infants' brains haven't developed enough to wake them if they aren't getting enough oxygen. Vijaya Reddy, M.D. The AAP notes that it is fine to bring your baby into your bed at night to breast-feed or offer comfort. To be safe, though, return him or her to the crib when you are ready to resume sleep. "I think once parents are informed about safe sleep practices, they find that they can get the most restful, worry-free sleep when baby is in his or her own bed," adds Dr. Reddy. To learn more, visit our online Health Guide (Kapiolani.org) and search for SIDS. Crib Bumper Pads Risky for Babies Crib bumper pads may do more harm than good, say researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Some people use the pads in cribs and bassinets to keep babies safe. But researchers checked U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data from 1985 to 2005 and found 27 accidental deaths. The victims ranged from 1 month to 2 years old. Investigations showed 11 infants likely suffocated as their faces rested against the bumper pad. Thirteen died when they got wedged between the bumper pad and another object. Three were strangled by a bumper tie.