bedshare

Bedsharing is the practice of sleeping on the same surface as another person. In the context of infant care, bedsharing refers specifically to an infant sharing a bed with a caregiver, most often a parent. The term can also describe adults sharing a bed, but it is most often discussed regarding infant sleep arrangements.

Cultural and regional variation shapes how common bedsharing is. Rates differ across countries and communities, and decisions are influenced by family routines, traditions, housing conditions, and beliefs about breastfeeding and bonding. Many health guidelines distinguish bedsharing from room-sharing, where the infant sleeps in the same room but on a separate sleep surface.

Potential benefits cited by supporters include easier nighttime breastfeeding, quicker response to an infant’s cues, and enhanced bonding. However, bedsharing also carries safety concerns. The primary risk cited is an increased chance of suffocation, overlay, or entrapment, and, in some analyses, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, especially when soft bedding, thick mattresses, pillows, or blankets are present, when caregivers smoke or use alcohol or drugs, if the infant is very young or premature, or when the sleep surface is a sofa or other non-bed environment.

Safety guidance commonly recommends room-sharing with a separate sleep surface for the first six to twelve months, and often up to one year. If bedsharing occurs, precautions include a firm, flat sleep surface; no gaps between mattress and headboard or wall; no loose bedding, pillows, or soft items; placing the infant on the back; and ensuring the caregiver is sober and not overly fatigued. Bedsharing on couches is strongly discouraged.