Room Sharing vs. Bed Sharing: Safe Sleep Explained

Where your baby sleeps is one of the most important safety decisions you'll make. The terms "room sharing" and "bed sharing" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they mean very different things—with very different safety implications.

This guide clarifies the recommendations and helps you understand the evidence behind them.

What You Need to Know AAP

Room sharing:

• Baby sleeps in their own safe sleep space
• In the same room as parents
• Recommended by AAP for at least 6 months, ideally 12 months
• Associated with reduced SIDS risk (up to 50% reduction)

Bed sharing:

• Baby sleeps in the same bed as adult
• NOT recommended by AAP
• Associated with increased risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment
• Risk especially high in certain circumstances

These are NOT the same thing.

Room sharing is recommended. Bed sharing is not. AAP

Why Room Sharing Is Recommended

Benefits:

• Reduces SIDS risk by up to 50%
• Baby is within arm's reach for monitoring
• Easier for nighttime feeding
• Parents hear baby's sounds and movements
• Baby hears parents' breathing (may help regulate)

Practical advantages:

• Don't have to fully wake up for feeds
• Can see baby easily
• Quick response to needs
• Reassurance for anxious parents

Recommended duration:

• At least first 6 months
• Ideally for first year
• After 6 months, SIDS risk decreases
• Transition to own room is fine when family is ready AAP

Why Bed Sharing Is Discouraged

Risks include:

• SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
• Suffocation from soft bedding
• Entrapment in spaces between mattress and wall/headboard
• Overlay (adult rolling onto baby)
• Strangulation in bedding

Adult beds are not safe for infants:

• Soft mattresses
• Loose blankets and pillows
• Headboards and footboards create gaps
• Not designed for infant safety

Risk factors that make bed sharing especially dangerous:

• Baby under 4 months
• Premature or low birth weight baby
• Parent smoked during pregnancy
• Parent has been drinking alcohol
• Parent has taken sedating medication
• Soft bedding present
• Bed sharing on couch or armchair (extremely dangerous) AAP

Safe Room Sharing Setup

Where baby should sleep:

• Crib, bassinet, portable play yard, or bedside sleeper
• Within arm's reach but on separate surface
• Meeting current safety standards
• Firm, flat mattress with tight-fitting sheet only

Bassinet/bedside sleeper:

• Good for first months
• Keep next to bed
• Ensures baby has own safe surface
• Easy access for feeding

Crib in parents' room:

• Safe option for longer term
• Full-sized or mini crib
• Same safety standards as any crib

What to avoid:

• Baby in bed with parents
• Baby on couch, chair, or other soft surface
• Any surface with loose bedding
• Any surface not designed for infant sleep

If Bed Sharing Happens

Reality: Many parents bring baby into bed, especially when exhausted during night feeds. If this happens or is likely to happen, know how to make it less risky.

If you bring baby into bed:

• Return baby to safe sleep space when possible
• Never bed share on couch or armchair
• Remove loose bedding and pillows from baby's area
• Keep baby away from headboard, footboard, wall
• Place baby on back
• No other children or pets in bed

Situations when bed sharing is most dangerous:

• NEVER on couch or armchair (highest risk)
• NEVER if parent has been drinking alcohol
• NEVER if parent has taken sedating medications
• NEVER if parent smoked during pregnancy
• NEVER if baby is under 4 months or premature

Important: Even with precautions, bed sharing carries risks that room sharing on a separate surface does not. AAP

Feeding and Sleep

Breastfeeding at night:

• Brings baby to bed to feed, then return to safe surface
• Keep safe sleep space close for easy transfer
• Okay to fall asleep while feeding if on safe surface
• If on adult bed, return baby when feeding complete

If you fall asleep while feeding:

• Adult bed is safer than couch or armchair if this happens
• But bassinet next to bed is safest
• Consider setting alarm to help wake to transfer baby
• Feed in position where baby can be safely placed down

Transitioning Baby to Own Room

When:

• AAP recommends room sharing through at least 6 months
• After 6-12 months, transitioning is fine
• When family is ready

How:

• Gradual approach: start with naps in baby's room
• Maintain same sleep routine
• Use monitor for reassurance
• May go through adjustment period

What to expect:

• Some babies transition easily
• Others take time to adjust
• Consistency helps
• Sleep may temporarily regress

What Other Parents Ask

Q: Isn't bed sharing more natural/how other cultures do it?
A: Sleep practices vary across cultures and history. However, modern adult beds (with soft mattresses, pillows, and blankets) create risks that may not have existed in other contexts. The AAP bases recommendations on current evidence in current sleep environments. AAP

Q: I'm so tired I'm worried I'll drop baby. Isn't bed sharing safer than falling asleep in a chair?
A: Falling asleep while holding baby in a chair is the most dangerous scenario. If you're concerned about falling asleep, put baby in safe sleep space before feeding, or feed in bed (safer than chair if you doze) and transfer after. Best: safe sleep surface within arm's reach.

Q: My baby won't sleep unless in bed with me. What do I do?
A: Many babies prefer closeness. Try a bedside sleeper so baby is close but on safe surface. Warm the sleep surface before placing baby down. Swaddle for snugness. It may take time and patience, but babies can learn to sleep on safe surfaces.

Q: We bed share sometimes and nothing bad has happened. Are the risks overstated?
A: Many families bed share without incident, but this doesn't mean the practice is safe. SIDS and suffocation, while relatively rare, are devastating when they happen. The AAP makes recommendations based on risk reduction. The safest choice is room sharing without bed sharing.

Q: When can I stop room sharing?
A: SIDS risk is highest in first 4 months and decreases significantly after 6 months. Room sharing through 6 months is recommended; through 12 months is ideal. After 6 months, families can transition based on their preferences and circumstances. AAP

The Bottom Line

Room sharing (baby in their own sleep space in your room) is recommended for at least 6 months. Bed sharing (baby in adult bed) is not recommended due to risks of SIDS, suffocation, and entrapment. If bed sharing happens, know how to make it less risky—and never bed share on a couch, chair, or when impaired. AAP

Key points:

• Room sharing: recommended
• Bed sharing: not recommended
• Baby needs own safe sleep surface
• Keep baby close but on separate surface
• Never bed share on couch or when impaired

Clara is here to help you understand safe sleep choices.