Bed Sharing Increases Cot Death Rates On Babies By Five Times: STUDY

A recent study on cot death revealed that babies who share a bed with their parents are five times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The study published by the British Medical Journal Open revealed that the risk for death in babies are increased when they sleep on the same bed with their parents. Considered to be the largest SIDS research ever, the authors studied over 1,472 cases of SIDS and 4,679 control cases from a variety of regions around the world.

According to Fox News, this recent study of SIDS--also known as cot death--included cases from Australasia, the UK and Europe.

The study also asserted that deaths among babies are still evidently high even when mothers breastfeed their babies and when the infant's parents have never consumed alcohol or used drugs.

"Eighty-eight percent of the deaths that occurred while bed sharing would probably not have occurred had the baby been placed on its back in a cot by the parents' bed,'' the authors of the study wrote in the report.

According to University of Adelaide professor Paul Goldwater, the higher fatality rate of babies who share a bed with their parents can be attributed to the bacteria that can be found on the beds.

"A baby sleeping in such a contaminated environment could inhale or ingest shed skin cells covered in these bacteria. A genetically susceptible baby is at risk in the co-sleeping situation. This risk is further increased with every additional risk factor," Goldwater said, as reported by The Australian.

Bed sharing has grown significantly in the past decade, the study stated. Moreover, a growing number of parents have been endorsing this practice online and through word of mouth.

Catherine Fetherson, a Murdoch University associate professor, said 30 to 50 percent of parents have shared a bed with their babies at some point, Fox News reports.

"They are continuing to do it, even though people are being warned against it and so what is happening is they are shutting down all communication with health professionals,'' Fetherson said.

Authors of the study, as well as medical professionals, are now hoping that more parents will be aware of the risks their babies are facing when they simply share a bed.