According to the Academy of Pediatrics of America, children need to sleep with their parents in the same room for at least 6 months in order to reduce the cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Moreover, they should not share the same bed, but they need to have separate beds. In this way the risks are reduced by 50%, studies showed.
General facts about SIDS
It is not known what is the real reason behind this syndrome, but there are many cases where children die due to suffocation in sleep, resulting in 35,000 deaths in the US each year. This makes it 40% of the cases, and other deaths of mishaps related to sleep make up around 25%. The syndrome occurs among children that are 6 months old.
This happens because of the apparatus in the sleeping area near the children like toys, soft pillow, little parts, furnishings, etc. which can block the breathing process due to asphyxia. Another reason may be a genetic defect the child may have been born with that obstructs the vulnerable nasal passaged and cause difficulty in breathing. Mothers can fall asleep during breast-feeding because of tiredness, leading to death of the infant. It is even more dangerous when mothers breast feed their children in an arm-chair with no surrounding support in case they fall.
Will Sharing the Same Room Keep the SIDS Away?
This question may raise a discussion but a few theoretical views can be very effective:
The Parents Are More Alert
The closer are the children to their parents, the more alerted they are. They can keep an eye on the baby, if it is crying or making some odd noises so they can immediately react and save its life.
Babies Are More Comfortable
The babies will feel safer if they are not alone in the room and the sense of parent’s presence will make them comfortable.
Be Cautious When Sharing a Room
Separate Sleeping Beds
The babies and parents should not share the same bed because the adult bed is not made for the baby needs. The pillows, blankets and duvets can do a great harm to the baby. So, it is much better to keep the children in a separate bed.
The Baby Sleeping Surface
The crib is the best sleeping place for the children because they can’t roll of. They have to be placed on their backs on a firm surface in order to get the needed back support. They also need a sheet that is tightly set so that it can’t unravel when the babies roll around. There should be no blankets, pillows or bed furnishings which can make them feel hot or even suffocate them.
Breastfeeding Zone
It is advised to feed the babies in the parents’ beds, so in case the mothers fall asleep, there should be someone else to keep watch.
Source:
anxioustoddlers.com
