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Sharing bed with baby in first year may raise risk of sudden infant death Sharing bed with baby in first year may raise risk of sudden infant death
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Parents should be warned not to share a bed with their babies for the first 12 months of their lives in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids), according to draft guidance issued by government advisers.Parents should be warned not to share a bed with their babies for the first 12 months of their lives in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids), according to draft guidance issued by government advisers.
If adopted, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommendations, published on Thursday, would represent a significant change from its existing guidelines, issued in 2006, which applied to babies up to the age of six to eight weeks, or – where additional risk factors such as a parent drinking alcohol or smoking were present – up to 11 weeks.If adopted, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommendations, published on Thursday, would represent a significant change from its existing guidelines, issued in 2006, which applied to babies up to the age of six to eight weeks, or – where additional risk factors such as a parent drinking alcohol or smoking were present – up to 11 weeks.
The proposed change comes after ministers asked Nice to urgently reappraise its guidance on co-sleeping and cot death.The proposed change comes after ministers asked Nice to urgently reappraise its guidance on co-sleeping and cot death.
If implemented, it would make the approach in England and Wales more cautious than in countries such as the Netherlands and the US, which both advise against bed-sharing until a child is at least three months old, recommendations that had been promoted as examples to follow by those who felt the existing guidelines were inadequate.If implemented, it would make the approach in England and Wales more cautious than in countries such as the Netherlands and the US, which both advise against bed-sharing until a child is at least three months old, recommendations that had been promoted as examples to follow by those who felt the existing guidelines were inadequate.
But the advice was criticised by the National Childcare Trust (NCT), which suggested that it did not reflect the reality that around half of mothers share a bed with their baby at some point in the child's first few months and that these mothers would therefore be stigmatised. But the advice was criticised by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), which suggested that it did not reflect the reality that around half of mothers share a bed with their baby at some point in the child's first few months and that these mothers would therefore be stigmatised.
Mark Bake, clinical practice director at Nice, said: "Falling asleep with a baby, whether that's in a bed or on a sofa or chair, is risky. It's imperative that all parents and carers know about the association between sudden infant death syndrome and falling asleep with a child under the age of one. This is especially important if parents drink alcohol, take drugs or expose their baby to tobacco smoke."Mark Bake, clinical practice director at Nice, said: "Falling asleep with a baby, whether that's in a bed or on a sofa or chair, is risky. It's imperative that all parents and carers know about the association between sudden infant death syndrome and falling asleep with a child under the age of one. This is especially important if parents drink alcohol, take drugs or expose their baby to tobacco smoke."
In May, a study, reported in the medical journal BMJ Open, found that parents who slept with their children ran a five-fold extra risk of their baby suffering a cot death compared with infants left in their cots, even if the adults did not smoke, the main risk factor for such deaths.In May, a study, reported in the medical journal BMJ Open, found that parents who slept with their children ran a five-fold extra risk of their baby suffering a cot death compared with infants left in their cots, even if the adults did not smoke, the main risk factor for such deaths.
In its draft guidance, Nice criticised the general quality of research on the subject but said that "the seriousness of the outcome merited the use of lower quality evidence".In its draft guidance, Nice criticised the general quality of research on the subject but said that "the seriousness of the outcome merited the use of lower quality evidence".
There were about 2,000 cot deaths a year but changes in behaviour, especially parents putting their child to sleep on their back, have led to fatalities falling to about 250 in England and Wales.There were about 2,000 cot deaths a year but changes in behaviour, especially parents putting their child to sleep on their back, have led to fatalities falling to about 250 in England and Wales.
Belinda Phipps, NCT's chief executive, said it was important that parents were informed about the link between co-sleeping and Sids when combined with other risk factors.Belinda Phipps, NCT's chief executive, said it was important that parents were informed about the link between co-sleeping and Sids when combined with other risk factors.
"However we know that around half of UK mothers bed-share with their baby at some point in their first few months. Nice guidance needs to reflect this reality. We are concerned that these guidelines will lead to parents hiding the fact that they are bed sharing, or doing so through desperation or exhaustion without safety strategies in place.""However we know that around half of UK mothers bed-share with their baby at some point in their first few months. Nice guidance needs to reflect this reality. We are concerned that these guidelines will lead to parents hiding the fact that they are bed sharing, or doing so through desperation or exhaustion without safety strategies in place."
The other new element in the draft guidance is a recommendation to inform parents that the association between co-sleeping and Sids could be greater with low birth weight or premature infants.The other new element in the draft guidance is a recommendation to inform parents that the association between co-sleeping and Sids could be greater with low birth weight or premature infants.
The guidelines are out for consultation until the end of the month, with the final recommendations expected to be published in December.The guidelines are out for consultation until the end of the month, with the final recommendations expected to be published in December.
• This article was amended on 4 July 2014. An earlier version referred to the National Childcare Trust rather than the National Childbirth Trust.