Never Sleep With Your Baby

Based on the evidence, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend sharing your bed with your baby under any circumstances. This includes twins and other multiples.

If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, place them in their own sleep space when you’re ready to go to sleep.

If there is any possibility that you might fall asleep while your baby is in your bed, make sure there are no pillows, sheets, blankets or any other items that could cover your baby’s face, head, and neck or overheat them. As soon as you wake up, be sure to move your baby to their own bed.

Avoid falling asleep with your baby in other spots, too. The risk of sleep-related infant death is up to 67 times higher when infants sleep with someone on a couch, soft armchair or cushion.

When it is extra important not to bed share with your baby:

• You have been drinking alcohol, using marijuana or taking any medicines or illicit drugs. The risk of sleep-related infant death is more than 10 times higher for babies who share a bed with someone who is fatigued or has taken medications that make it harder for them to wake up. This includes consuming substances such as alcohol or drugs.
• Your baby is very young, small or was born prematurely. The risk of sleep-related infant death while bed-sharing is five to ten times higher when your baby is younger than 4 months old. And the risk of sleep-related infant death is two to five times higher when your baby was born preterm or with low birth weight.

For alternatives to sharing a bed with your baby, see “Sharing a Room With Your Baby.”