Room-sharing vs bed-sharing

Room-sharing — baby in their own bassinet or crib in your bedroom — is protective. The AAP recommends it for at least six months, ideally a year. Proximity reduces SIDS risk and makes night feeds much easier. Bed-sharing — baby in your bed — increases SIDS and suffocation risk significantly, especially in the first 4 months, with soft bedding, on sofas, or when a parent is exhausted, on medication, or has smoked or drunk alcohol. It is the leading known factor in sudden infant deaths. If you may fall asleep during a night feed, the safest place is a firm surface without pillows, blankets, or drop-off edges. Move baby back to the bassinet as soon as they're settled. If you choose to bed-share for cultural or personal reasons, follow the "Safe Sleep Seven" guidelines carefully.