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Bed-sharing in the first four months of life: a risk factor for sudden infant death

Jan H Ruys1, Guus A de Jonge, Ronald Brand

  • 1Leiden University Medical Center, Reviuslaan 38, 2343 JR Oegstgeest, The Netherlands. jruys@hccnet.nl

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|August 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Bed-sharing significantly increases the risk of sudden infant death (cot death) in infants under 4 months old. Breastfeeding did not alter this risk in the study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a significant concern.
  • Understanding environmental risk factors like bed-sharing is crucial for prevention.
  • The potential protective effect of breastfeeding in the context of bed-sharing requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the risk of sudden infant death (cot death) associated with bed-sharing in infants.
  • To evaluate the influence of breastfeeding on the risk of cot death during bed-sharing.
  • To examine age-related differences in bed-sharing risks for infants.

Main Methods:

  • A 10-year nationwide study in the Netherlands (1996-2006) investigated 213 cases of cot death.
  • A reference group of 1628 infants from welfare centers was used for comparison.
  • Statistical analysis, including odds ratios, was performed, adjusting for parental smoking.

Main Results:

  • Of 138 cot deaths in infants under 6 months, 26% involved bed-sharing, compared to 9.4% in the reference group.
  • The odds ratio for cot death during bed-sharing decreased with age: 9.1 at 1 month, 4.0 at 2 months, 1.7 at 3 months, and 1.3 at 4-5 months.
  • Breastfeeding did not significantly modify the excess risk associated with bed-sharing.

Conclusions:

  • Bed-sharing is a significant risk factor for sudden infant death in infants younger than 4 months.
  • The association between bed-sharing and cot death risk diminishes after 4 months of age.
  • Public health recommendations should emphasize safe sleep environments, particularly for young infants.
Abstract

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