Only a week after a study was released that suggested babies should share a bed with their mum until up to three years old, new figures released by the Department of Education in the UK - following a freedom of information request - suggests that the risk of sleep-related infant deaths while co-sleeping is more prevalent than many might realise.
Co-sleeping has been linked to 665 baby deaths in the UK over the past five years - that's 2/3 deaths a week - according to the Department for Education's data.
Figures obtained by the Mirror show there were 141 deaths linked to co-sleeping in 2017, 131 in 2016, 121 in 2015, 141 in 2014 and 131 in 2013.
Co-sleeping is something we hear a lot about because it's been an organic process for some mums while for others, some say it's the only way they and their baby can get any sleep. Even Kourtney Kardashian recently spoke about the subject, saying that co-sleeping was virtually the only way she got any sleep herself when her children were young.
"Some parents choose to share a bed with their baby but we recommend they keep in mind the risk factors,” said Francine Bates, of The Lullaby Trust.
Indeed, HSE guidelines for safe sleeping advise that you generally shouldn't co-sleep with your baby for safety reasons (advising that it could help prevent cot death), especially if the baby is premature or less than three months old. They recommend having a baby sleep in their own cot in your room while lying on their back.
"The safest place for your baby to sleep at night is in a cot in your room for the first 6 months. Bed-sharing can be dangerous especially if parents are smokers or if baby is premature or less than 3 months old," they advise on their website.
Similarly, parents are advised that if they do opt to co-sleep, this should also happen according to known safety guidelines, never falling asleep on a sofa, couch, armchair or beanbag.
