Yes, Wendy - that's it exactly. I think that when parents are faced with a miniscule extra risk of SIDS on the one hand and an indefinite period of sleep disruption on the other, it's perfectly reasonable for them to opt for the former (just as we accept a miniscule extra risk of our children being in an RTA from being driven somewhere if the alternative would be for us to be stuck close to home the whole time!)

I think it's fine to be honest but realistic about the risks. To tell them that the risk can be incredibly low with proper precautions (a recent study estimated extra SIDS risk with bedsharing to be 1 in 100 000 for a breastfed baby with non-smoking parents and no other risk factors) and that it's OK not to feel that that low a risk is worth their sanity. Not to mention putting it to them that if they're really worn out from baby not sleeping, there's a risk of them falling asleep on the sofa or an armchair with their baby - much more risk than setting up a low-risk bedsharing environment! I don't think it's right to *push* bedsharing or to deny that there is a risk, but I think it's worth talking to parents about it as a realistic option that's better recognised and done safely than unsafely.

The UNICEF baby-friendly leaflet is great for discussing safe sleeping, both bedsharing & cot sleeping.


Best wishes,

Dr Sarah Vaughan
MBChB MRCGP

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