Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors/Reviewers
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Open Access
    • Editorial Policies
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Online First
    • Archive
    • Blogs
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • AAP Meeting Abstracts
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • AAP Policy
  • Supplements
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in
  • Log out
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • Log out
  • My Cart
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • Authors/Reviewers
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Guidelines
    • Reviewer Guidelines
    • Open Access
    • Editorial Policies
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Online First
    • Archive
    • Blogs
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • AAP Meeting Abstracts
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • AAP Policy
  • Supplements
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Careers

Discover Pediatric Collections on COVID-19 and Racism and Its Effects on Pediatric Health

American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Sleep Environment, Positional, Lifestyle, and Demographic Characteristics Associated With Bed Sharing in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases: A Population-Based Study

Barbara M. Ostfeld, Harold Perl, Linda Esposito, Katherine Hempstead, Robert Hinnen, Alissa Sandler, Paula Goldblatt Pearson and Thomas Hegyi
Pediatrics November 2006, 118 (5) 2051-2059; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-0176
Barbara M. Ostfeld
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Harold Perl
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Linda Esposito
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Katherine Hempstead
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Robert Hinnen
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alissa Sandler
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Paula Goldblatt Pearson
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Thomas Hegyi
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments
Loading
Download PDF

Abstract

BACKGROUND. In 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome recommended that infants not bed share during sleep.

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to characterize the profile of risk factors associated with bed sharing in sudden infant death syndrome cases.

DESIGN/METHODS. We conducted a population-based retrospective review of sudden infant death syndrome cases in New Jersey (1996–2000) dichotomized by bed-sharing status and compared demographic, lifestyle, bedding-environment, and sleep-position status.

RESULTS. Bed-sharing status was reported in 239 of 251 cases, with sharing in 39%. Bed-sharing cases had a higher percentage of bedding risks (44.1% vs 24.7%), exposure to bedding risks in infants discovered prone (57.1% vs 28.2%), and lateral sleep placement (28.9% vs 17.8%). The prone position was more common for bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing cases at placement (45.8% and 51.1%, respectively) and discovery (59.0% and 64.4%, respectively). In multivariable logistic-regression analyses, black race, mother <19 years, gravida >2, and maternal smoking were associated with bed sharing. There was a trend toward less breastfeeding in bed-sharing cases (22% vs 35%). In bed-sharing cases, those breastfed were younger than those who were not and somewhat more exposed to bedding risks (64.7% vs 45.1%) but less likely to be placed prone (11.8% vs 52.9%) or have maternal smoking (33% vs 66%).

CONCLUSIONS. Bed-sharing cases were more likely to have had bedding-environment and sleep-position risks and higher ratios of demographic and lifestyle risk factors. Bed-sharing subjects who breastfed had a risk profile distinct from those who were not breastfed cases. Risk and situational profiles can be used to identify families in greater need of early guidance and to prepare educational content to promote safe sleep.

  • sudden infant death syndrome
  • bed sharing
  • maternal smoking

The practice of bed sharing with infants is common and growing. In the National Infant Sleep Position Study, Willinger et al1 reported that 45% of infants spent a portion of their sleep time in an adult bed in the 2 weeks preceding the study interview and that bed sharing as a usual practice was increasing, from 5.5% in 1993 to 12.8% in 2000. The probability of this practice was greater in populations typically found to be at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), such as adolescent parents or maternal race reported as black. In a cohort of infants born to families in the United States with a sociodemographic profile associated with a higher risk for SIDS, 48% reported routine sleeping of an infant with a parent or other adult.2 In contrast, in the International Child Care Practices Study, Nelson et al noted that “[r]ates of bedsharing … appeared to be more common in the samples with a lower awareness of SIDS, but not necessarily a high SIDS rate,”3(p43) reflecting the diversity in how bed sharing is practiced across cultures and the challenge of defining what is safe.

Bed sharing has been shown to facilitate breastfeeding.4,5 However, the association between bed sharing and breastfeeding is more likely to be found in racial groups already at lower risk for SIDS.6 In a population at higher risk for SIDS,7 Flick et al noted no differences in breastfeeding rates between infants who slept alone and those who were bed sharing but, instead, a greater likelihood of finding risk elevating bedding and sleep positions in the bed-sharing group. Bed sharing has been identified as a risk in association with such conditions as maternal smoking,8 use of a sofa as a sleep surface,9 an infant younger than 11 weeks,9 or the presence of individuals other than a parent, such as another child.10 Adding to the complexity, findings vary. For example, although Blair et al11 did not find an association between bed sharing and SIDS among parents who do not smoke, Tappin et al9 found that bed sharing remained a risk even if the mother did not smoke.

Bed sharing with respect to SIDS is a controversial topic.12 Although bed sharing has been described not a risk factor per se but as an environment in which specific risk factors may be present,11 the policy statement of the Task Force on Infant Sleep Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome issued in 2000 stated: “No epidemiologic evidence exists that bed sharing is protective.”13(p651) And, in the policy statement of 2005 the Task Force indicated that “the evidence is growing that bed sharing … is more hazardous than the infant sleeping on a separate surface and, therefore, recommends that infants not bed share during sleep.”14(p1252)

It is likely, however, that bed sharing will continue to be a topic of discussion. We therefore undertook a retrospective, population-based study of New Jersey SIDS cases to further characterize the profile of risk factors associated with bed sharing. We hypothesized that bed-sharing cases of SIDS differ from nonsharing cases with respect to their demographic profile and lifestyle behaviors and have a distinct sleep environment with respect to sleep position and characteristics of the bedding environment.

METHODS

SIDS Cases

Under a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, the SIDS Center of New Jersey (SCNJ) receives data on all SIDS cases in New Jersey. Using the information reported to the SCNJ of all deaths finalized as SIDS from 1996 to 2000, we retrospectively reviewed data for bed-sharing status, age at death, gestational age, birth weight, breastfeeding status, race, maternal age, marital status, maternal smoking status, gravida, and use of prenatal care.7,13,15–17 To determine whether the sleeping environment differed as a function of bed-sharing status, we compared the bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing cases with respect to bedding-environment risks (presence of quilts, pillows, and similar soft surfaces, presence of other children, and use of sofa as a sleep surface) and position of the infant at last sleep and at discovery. We also examined these risk factors in bed-sharing infants dichotomized by breastfeeding status. To determine whether the population of bed sharers was distinct from that of non–bed sharers with respect to demographic and lifestyle risk factors, we compared sharing status with respect to birth weight, race, maternal age, marital status, gravida, maternal smoking (prenatal or postnatal status not specified), prenatal care, and breastfeeding status. Bed sharing was defined as a shared sleep surface consisting of either a bed or sofa. All data were deidentified. The diagnosis of SIDS in New Jersey by a regional or county medical examiner is based on autopsy findings, the clinical history, and the death-scene investigation, with the final coding reported by the New Jersey Center for Health Statistics. The institutional review boards of the relevant institutions approved this study as meeting the standards for exempt status.

Statistical Methods

Continuous data are presented as the median (25th and 75th quartiles). Discrete data are provided as number of cases and percentages. Differences were assessed by χ2 analysis or Fisher's exact test for categorical data and by the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous data. Analyses were performed by comparing the percentage of black racial identity, birth weight (<1801, 1801–2499, or >2499 g), mother's age (<19, 19–25, or >35 years old) single mothers, gravida >2, mothers who were smokers, absence of prenatal care, and absence of breastfeeding in SIDS cases with and without bed sharing. Logistic-regression analysis was used to obtain unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) for each variable. Because of the multiple variables that were significantly associated with bed sharing, modeling was performed by using multivariable logistic analyses, and adjusted OR (AOR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained. Significant differences between 2 independent proportions were assessed by using the z ratio. Two-tailed probabilities were calculated for all tests. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were completed by using Statistical 5.5 (StatSoft, Inc, Tulsa, OK)

RESULTS

Descriptive Data for SIDS Cases

From 1996 to 2000, 251 SIDS cases occurred in New Jersey. Of these, 244 were prospectively reported to the SCNJ. Table 1 contains descriptive data on the 239 cases for which information on bed-sharing status was recorded and on a subset of 152 cases (64%) for which there were no missing data in the demographic and lifestyle variables under study. The subset was comparable to the larger group with respect to the percentage of cases containing the specified risk factors. In the 239 cases, 38.9% reported bed sharing, 13.3% had birth weight <1801 g, 49.4% self-reported race as black, 15.6% had mothers <19 years of age, 63.9% had single parents, 45.5% had gravida >2, 43% noted maternal smoking, 10% reported an absence of prenatal care, and 71.6% did not breastfeed. The respective medians (25th and 75th quartiles) for the larger data set and subgroup were also comparable for age at death in days, 90 (54, 122) and 94 (55, 127); birth weight in grams, 3005 (2252, 3430) and 3005 (2285, 3459); and gestational age in weeks, 40 (36, 40) and 40 (36, 40).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
TABLE 1

Characteristics of SIDS Cases

Bedding-Environment Risks

Both the bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing groups were comparable in the use of nonsupine sleep (prone and lateral), and for both, it was more common than supine sleep (Table 2). Bed-sharing cases had a higher percentage of lateral placement (28.9% vs 17.8%; OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 0.99–3.58), a position that resulted in a comparable shift-to-prone at discovery within 41.7% of the bed sharers and 54.2% of the non–bed sharers (P = .38). Fewer shifts to prone occurred with infants placed to sleep in the supine position. Such shifts were noted in 15% of bed-sharing and 21.4% of non–bed-sharing infants (P = .55). The shifts from lateral or supine to prone resulted in a higher percentage of prone infants at discovery than at placement. However, as with placement, the positions of the infant at the time of discovery are comparable for the bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing groups, again with prone the most common (Table 2).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
TABLE 2

Sleep Position According to Bed-Sharing Status

Bedding-environment risks were higher in the bed-sharing group (44.1% vs 24.7%; OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.37–4.22). These risks in the 93 bed-sharing cases were comprised of 10 cases of sofa use (10.8%), 14 cases of the presence of another child (15.15%), and 17 cases of proximity to pillows, quilts, blankets, or other soft surfaces (18.3%). In the 142 non–bed-sharing cases, these risks were comprised of 8 cases of sofa use (5.63%) and 27 cases of pillows, etc (19%). These data were then reviewed for cases for which the positions at sleep and at discovery were recorded. For each body position at discovery, Fig 1 presents the proportion of cases that contained bedding-environment risks. For both the bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing groups, the prone position had the highest proportion of risk compared with the lateral and supine positions. However, the bed-sharing-prone cases had the highest percentage of bedding-environment risk of any group and significantly more risk than the non–bed-sharing-prone cases (57.1% vs 28.2%; OR: 3.39; 95% CI: 1.52–7.07). Of the 49 bed-sharing infants found prone, 14% used a sofa, 20.4% had another child present, and 22.4% had pillows, etc. Of the 85 non–bed-sharing infants found prone, 4.7% used a sofa and 23.5% had pillows, etc.

FIGURE 1
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
  • Download powerpoint
FIGURE 1

Bedding risks in bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing cases, stratified according to position at discovery. Bed-sharing cases: prone, n = 49; lateral, n = 15; supine, n = 18. Non–bed-sharing cases: prone, n = 85; lateral, n = 14; supine, n = 33.

Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Risks

In the univariate analyses (Table 3), bed-sharing cases had a significantly greater percentage of infants with a birth weight of <1801 g, black race, maternal age <19 years, single mother, gravida >2, and maternal smoking.

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
TABLE 3

Univariate Analyses: Associations Between Demographic and Lifestyle SIDS Risk Factors With Bed Sharing

The multivariable logistic-regression analyses (Table 4) were conducted on the 152 cases with no missing data. As noted in Table 1, the distribution of risks in this subgroup was comparable to that for the 239 cases on which the univariate analyses were based, and the univariate analyses repeated for this subgroup (Table 4) resulted in a pattern of statistical significance comparable to that obtained for the larger cohort (Table 3), with the addition of a nonsignificant trend toward less breastfeeding in the bed-sharing group (P = .079). In the final multivariable logistic-regression model, black race (AOR: 3.02; 95% CI: 1.35–6.67), maternal age <19 years (AOR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.23–10.29), gravida >2 (AOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.04–4.89), and maternal smoking (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.10–4.79) were significantly associated with bed sharing.

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
TABLE 4

Multivariable Analyses: Demographic and Lifestyle SIDS Risk Factors Associated With Bed Sharing

For age at death in days, there were no differences between the respective medians (25th, 75th quartiles) for the bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing cases for either the larger group (84 [45, 119] and 90 [58, 127]; P = .09), or the subgroup (90 [45, 120] and 96.5 [59.5, 129.5]; P = .22). There also were no differences between bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing cases, respectively, for gestational age in weeks in either the larger group (40 [34, 40] and 40 [36.5, 40]; P = .49) or the subset (40 [34, 40] and 40 [37, 40]; P = .62). However, birth weight in grams was lower in the bed-sharing group for both the larger group (2835 ([2070, 3118] and 3090 [2410, 3487]; P < .01) and the subgroup (2821 [2126, 3090] and 3118 [2495, 3544]; P < .01).

Bed Sharing With and Without Breastfeeding

We examined the association between position and breastfeeding in the 68 bed-sharing cases for which both data points were available. Breastfed infants were less likely to be placed prone. For the 17 breastfed infants, 11.8% were placed in the prone position, 41.2% in the lateral, and 47.1% in the supine. In contrast, in the 51 nonbreastfed infants, 52.9% were placed prone, 25.5% in the lateral, and 21.6% in the supine (P < .01). With respect to the presence of bedding risks, 64.7% of the breastfed group compared with 45.1% of the nonbreastfed group had these risks present; however, the difference was not significant (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 0.72–6.96). For the breastfed infants, the most common risk was related to pillows, blankets, or other soft surfaces, which were experienced by 7 of the 11 infants with bedding risks. For the nonbreastfed group, the most common risk was the presence of other children, which was experienced by 8 of the 23 with bedding risks. Maternal smoking status was available in 65 of the 68 of the bed-sharing cases reviewed for position and bedding risks. There was more maternal smoking in the nonbreastfed group (66% vs 33%; OR: 3.88; 95% CI: 1.1–13.5). Of bed-sharing infants, the median age (25, 75th quartiles) at death in days was lower for breastfed infants than for nonbreastfed infants (45 [33, 86] vs 97 [58, 123]; P = .003).

DISCUSSION

Overview

In this population-based study of infants who died of SIDS in New Jersey from 1996 to 2000, we found that bed sharing defines a group with a higher proportion of risk factors for SIDS. Specifically, bed-sharing infants were more likely to have bedding characteristics that have been associated with a higher risk of SIDS9,10 and to have a higher proportion of infants placed to sleep laterally, an unstable sleep position.18,19 Sofa use was doubled in the bed-sharing group. Although comparable with respect to the preponderance of infants placed prone, the more common position in placement and at discovery, the bed-sharing infants had a higher proportion of bedding risks among infants found prone than did non–bed-sharing infants. Univariate analyses of sociodemographic risk factors for SIDS demonstrated that bed-sharing cases had a greater proportion of infants with black racial designation, adolescent mothers, single mothers, gravida >2, and mothers who smoked.10,11,13,15–17 Black race, adolescent mother, high gravida, and maternal smoking remained significantly associated with bed sharing on multivariable analysis. In contrast to some living cohorts, in which there are associations between bed sharing and breastfeeding,6 we found that in SIDS cases higher breastfeeding rates were not associated with bed sharing. Rather, there was a nonsignificant trend toward lower levels of breastfeeding in the bed-sharing group. Within the bed-sharing group, risk patterns varied by breastfeeding status. In bed sharing, breastfed compared with nonbreastfed infants were younger at death, with a median age of 45 days and the 75th quartile of 86 days falling within the young high-risk age range for bed sharing cited by other studies.9,11,20 They had a nonsignificant increment in the proportion of cases with bedding risks, and their most common bedding risk was different. However, in terms of risk-reducing behaviors, breastfed infants used prone sleep position less than the lateral or supine, whereas for nonbreastfed infants it was the most common position. Breastfed infants were also less likely to have had mothers who smoked.

Relationship of Findings to Previous Studies

Using US cohorts, researchers have studied bed sharing in terms of living infants,1,21 case-control studies,10,12 or cases. Studies of cases have been specific to SIDS18,22 or have included related deaths.23,24 Our results are similar to other studies of SIDS cases in that we found associations between bed sharing and risk factors for some of the risks jointly examined and comparably defined. For example, our results were consistent with those of Carroll-Pankhurst and Mortimer22 who found in their study comparing a smaller cohort of 54 non–bed-sharing and 30 bed-sharing SIDS cases from an earlier era (1994–1997) that a higher proportion of the latter were black and had single parents and that both groups were comparable with respect to gestational age. Both studies also found that the bed-sharing groups were younger at time of death. The differences did not reach statistical significance in our study; however, for the subset of bed-sharing infants who breastfed, age of death was lowest.

With respect to sleep position and bed sharing, our data were comparable to the population-based study of Knight et al23 concerning sudden unexpected infant deaths in Kentucky from 1991 to 2000 in that the majority of infants were found prone, with no difference between bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing groups in the proportion of infants so found. Finally, our study was similar to Knight et al,23 Ling et al,18 and Carroll-Pankhurst and Mortimer22 in the percentage of infants who bed shared (38.9%, 36.2%, 33.4%, and 35.7%, respectively).

This study of cases adds to the literature by providing data on what distinguishes a bed-sharing and non–bed-sharing environment on additional variables and in a larger and more recent population of SIDS deaths by generating a multivariable model of demographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with bed sharing in SIDS and by providing a sleep-position, age, and bedding profile for bed-sharing cases that is specific to breastfeeding status.

Educational Outreach

In the United States, SIDS rates have declined to 0.57 deaths per 1000 live births in 200225 from 1.2 deaths per 1000 live births in 1992.26 A similar decline occurred in New Jersey, from 0.8 deaths per 1000 live births in 1992 to 0.3 deaths in 2003.27 The decline in SIDS parallels a drop in nonsupine infant sleep and maternal prenatal smoking, 2 major risk factors.16,28 In the National Infant Sleep Position Study, supine sleep rose from 13% in 1992 to 35% in 1996.28 On the basis of 2002 data from the New Jersey Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 54% of New Jersey infants were placed supine, with an additional 7% placed supine some of the time.29 In contrast, only 28% of the SIDS cases had been placed supine. To disseminate risk-reduction information that promotes acceptance and action, researchers have had to identify barriers, expand the targeted audiences, and improve the methods by which information is conveyed and explained. Thus, for example, Moon et al30 identified the need for risk-reduction education for nighttime child care providers, Colson and Joslin31 identified effective methodologies for the newborn nursery, and Ostfeld et al32 developed a school-based intervention to reach urban populations earlier regarding information about infant health and safety. Rasinski et al21 found some improvements in sleep practices after an ethnically sensitive, comprehensive risk-reduction program. With respect to the risk factor of bed sharing, the message, the audiences, and the methodology for conveying information must be revisited. For populations most likely to bed share, we need a better understanding of what factors contribute to the decision and to the conditions of the bed-sharing setting and what barriers might prevent change even with the presentation of more detailed risk-reduction information.

Interpreting Race as a Risk Factor

In the United States, infants identified as black have an increased probability of bed sharing1,6 and may do so under conditions that elevate or fail to mediate risk. Thus, bed-sharing black infants are not more likely to be breastfed,2,6 but they are likely to be placed prone in soft bedding.7 It has been proposed that infant sleep practices may be cultural, reflecting a pattern of child rearing shared and found meaningful by a cohesive group.1,21 However, racial differences in bed sharing may also reflect differences in access to accurate risk-reduction information. For example, Hauck et al33 reported that prone sleep was recommended to a higher proportion of black parents compared with nonblack parents in an urban community. Providing advice about bed sharing may be even more complex. Bed sharing has also been associated with low income1 and, therefore, may reflect limitations in resources. In our study, we did not have direct estimates of economic status and its association with race. However, through the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates of the US Census Bureau,34 we identified the 4 of New Jersey's 21 counties with the highest portion of children below the age of 18 living in poverty (1997–2000). These counties also had the highest proportion of uninsured children <18 years based on 2000 data from the US Census Bureau Small Area Health Insurance Estimates.35 Using the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data system,27 we determined that these were listed as counties of residence for 56% of black infants who died as a result of SIDS compared with 21% of white infants who died as a result of SIDS from 1996 to 2000. Although it may be hypothesized that poverty plays a role in some bed-sharing decisions or bed-sharing conditions, it is important to note that some studies have found black infant mortality rates for nonimpoverished infants to be similar,36 an indicator of the complexity of race as a variable and a reminder that risk-reduction education must reach all families. Finally, black women have been reported to be at higher risk for postpartum depression.37 In a study of predominantly black and single low-income women, depressive symptoms were associated with a lower likelihood of using the back-to-sleep position, suggesting another variable for exploring disparities in bed sharing.38 If risk-reduction education is to be effective, these and other mediators of choices must be identified and addressed.

Breastfeeding and Bed Sharing

In its policy statement on breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) section on breastfeeding recommended exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life.39 Bed sharing in breastfeeding has been described as facilitative.4 Baddock et al5 called for a determination of how to make bed sharing safer and McCoy et al,6 in an article published before the 2005 AAP policy statement on SIDS, noted that the risks and benefits of bed sharing should be weighed, with breastfeeding to be afforded particular attention. However, the AAP policy statement indicates that it can be hazardous under certain conditions.14 Accordingly, it recommended that although infants may be taken into the parental bed to support breastfeeding, they should be placed on a proximal sleep surface, such as a crib, for sleep. And, in a reply to published comments regarding the guidelines, Kattwinkel et al40,41 reiterated the challenge of defining a safe bed-sharing environment.

Bed sharing is described as being of greater risk for very young infants, variously defined as younger than 11 through 16 weeks,9,11,20 and Tappin et al9 noted an association between bed sharing and SIDS for infants in this young age group even in infants that breastfed. Yet, for parents who bed share in association with breastfeeding, bed sharing is more likely to occur at younger ages.6 In our SIDS cases, the age at death for breastfed infants reflected this association as well, underscoring the need for parent education to commence early. Our data also describe, albeit in a small cohort, that the sleep-environment risk profile is complex and different for bed-sharing infants that were breastfed compared with those who were not. The former included a lower risk of maternal smoking and prone sleep. However, despite these benefits, bedding risks were more prominent. In the absence of case-control studies on the populations defined here and on the risk patterns described, it is not possible to specify the degree to which risk is elevated in cases. Case-control studies using more detailed descriptions of the shared bedding environment with and without breastfeeding are needed and could serve as a basis for guidance on safe bed sharing should there be a change in the AAP guidelines.

Limitations

Our study had several limitations. Although between 183 and 239 cases had complete data for each of the univariate analyses, only 70% of the cases had complete data on all the variables used in the multivariate analyses. Although this subset was comparable to the larger group in terms of the pattern and degree of risks present, it remains possible that the missing data might have altered findings. In addition, data were obtained by many interviewers. Therefore, it is possible that there was a variance in how questions were clarified for families. No independent sources such as hospital birth records were used to corroborate data, which were based primarily on parental reporting. With respect to the types of bedding risks described here, there were too few cases within each category to determine if the sociodemographic profile varied by type of bedding risk. The detail was not sufficient to speculate on mechanisms such as rebreathing or hyperthermia by which a bed condition could elevate risk in a vulnerable infant.13,42 We also did not have information available on encumbrances to parental arousal during last sleep. With the exception of sleep position, for which New Jersey Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data were available for 2002, this study did not have comparison data in living controls. The associations of bed sharing and breastfeeding with respect to sleep position and other risk factors need to be replicated with larger cohorts. Finally, caution should be used in generalizing these findings to communities and states demographically dissimilar to New Jersey.

CONCLUSIONS

In a population-based study of SIDS cases in New Jersey (1996–2000), bed-sharing cases were distinguished from non–bed-sharing cases by a greater proportion of risk in the bedding environment, defined as the use of a couch; the presence of another child; proximity to blankets, pillows, and other soft bedding; a greater proportion of placement in a less-stable lateral sleep position; and, on multivariable analysis of sociodemographic risk factors, a greater proportion of race self-identified as black, higher gravida, adolescent mothers, and mothers self-identified as smokers. Breastfeeding was not more common in bed-sharing cases. However, in bed-sharing cases where it did occur, the risk profile associated with it, both in terms of risk-elevating and risk-reducing factors, was distinct from that of nonbreastfeeding cases, and their age at death was younger. Providers of SIDS risk-reduction education can use the risk profile and bedding and positional characteristics to identify families in greater need of earlier anticipatory guidance and follow-up consultations to help families understand risk and prepare clear and detailed educational content to promote safe sleep. Additional research is needed into possible barriers to change within the subgroups at higher risk and into best-practice models for effectively communicating this information. These findings can be used to support the risk-reduction educational initiatives of the AAP guidelines, and they may also be a resource for studies to determine conditions under which bed sharing in the context of breastfeeding could be made safer, should the guidelines undergo revision.

Acknowledgments

The SIDS Center of New Jersey is funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the CJ Foundation for SIDS.

Footnotes

    • Accepted July 18, 2006.
  • Address correspondence to Thomas Hegyi, MD, Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, PO Box 19, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0019. E-mail: hegyith{at}umdnj.edu
  • This work was presented in part at the Society for Pediatric Research meeting; May 14, 2005; Washington, DC.

    The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

SIDS—sudden infant death syndrome • SCNJ—SIDS Center of New Jersey • OR—odds ratio • CI—confidence interval • AOR—adjusted odds ratio • AAP—American Academy of Pediatrics

REFERENCES

  1. ↵
    Willinger M, Ko CW, Hoffman HJ, Kessler RC, Corwin MJ. National Infant Sleep Position study: trends in infant bed sharing in the United States, 1993–2000. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2003;157 :43– 49
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  2. ↵
    Brenner RA, Simons-Morton BG, Bhaskar B, Revenis M, Das A, Clemens JD. Infant-parent bed sharing in an inner-city population. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2003;157 :33– 39
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  3. ↵
    Nelson EA, Tayler BJ, Jenik A, et al. International child care practices study: infant sleeping environment. Early Hum Dev.2001;62 :43– 55.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  4. ↵
    McKenna JJ, Mosko SS, Richard CA. Bedsharing promotes breastfeeding. Pediatrics.1998;102 :662– 664
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  5. ↵
    Baddock SA, Galland BC, Bolton DPG, Williams SM, Taylor BJ. Differences in infant and parent behaviors during routine bed sharing compared with cot sleeping in the home setting. Pediatrics.2006;117 :1599– 1607
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  6. ↵
    McCoy RC, Hunt CE, Lesko SM, et al. Frequency of bed sharing and its relationship to breastfeeding. J Dev Behav Pediatr.2004;25 :141– 149
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  7. ↵
    Flick L, White DK, Vemulapalli C, Stulac BB, Kemp JS. Sleep position and the use of soft bedding during bed sharing among African American infants at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome. J Pediatr.2001;138 :338– 343
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  8. ↵
    Scragg RK, Mitchell EA. Side sleeping position and bed sharing in the sudden infant death syndrome. Ann Med.1998;30 :345– 349
    OpenUrlPubMed
  9. ↵
    Tappin D, Ecob R, Brooke H. Bedsharing, roomsharing and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland: a case-control study. J Pediatr.2005;147 :32– 37
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  10. ↵
    Hauck FR, Herman SM, Donovan M, et al. Sleep environment and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in an urban population: the Chicago Infant Mortality Study. Pediatrics.2003;111 :1207– 1214
    OpenUrlPubMed
  11. ↵
    Blair PS, Fleming PJ, Smith IJ, et al. Babies sleeping with parents: case-control study of factors influencing the risk of the sudden infant death syndrome. BMJ.1999;319 :1457– 1461
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  12. ↵
    Thach BT. Where should baby be put back to sleep? J Pediatr.2005;147 :6– 7
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  13. ↵
    American Academy of Pediatrics, Task Force on Infant Positioning and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Changing concepts of sudden infant death syndrome: implications for infant sleeping environment and sleep position. Pediatrics.2000;105 :650– 656
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  14. ↵
    American Academy of Pediatrics, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The changing concept of sudden infant death syndrome: diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Pediatrics.2005;116 :1245– 1255
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  15. ↵
    Getahum D, Amre D, Rhoads GG, Demissie K. Maternal and obstetric risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome in the US. Obstet Gynecol.2004;103 :646– 652
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  16. ↵
    Pollack HA, Frohna JG. Infant sleep placement after the back to sleep campaign. Pediatrics.2002;109 :608– 614
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  17. ↵
    Malloy MH. Sudden infant death syndrome among extremely preterm infants: United States 1997–1999. J Perinatol.2004;24 :181– 187
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  18. ↵
    Ling L, Fowler D, Liang L, Ripple MG, Lambros Z, Smialek JE. Investigation of sudden infant deaths in the state of Maryland (1990–2000). Forensic Sci Int.2005;148 :85– 92
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  19. ↵
    Li DK, Petitti DB, Willinger M, et al. Infant sleeping position and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in California, 1997–2000. Am J Epidemiol.2003;157 :446– 455
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  20. ↵
    Lahr MB, Rosenberg KD, Lapidus JA. Bedsharing and maternal smoking in a population-based survey of new mothers. Pediatrics.2005;116 :530– 542
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  21. ↵
    Rasinski KA, Kuby A, Bzdusek SA, Silvestri JM, Weese-Mayer DE. Effect of a sudden infant death syndrome risk reduction education program on risk factor compliance and information sources in primarily black urban communities. Pediatrics.2003;111 (4). Available at: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/111/4/e347
  22. ↵
    Caroll-Pankhurst C, Mortimer EA. Sudden infant death syndrome, bedsharing, parental weight and age at death. Pediatrics.2001;107 :530– 536
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  23. ↵
    Knight LD, Hunsaker DM, Corey TS. Cosleeping and sudden unexpected infant deaths in Kentucky: a 10-year retrospective case review. Am J Forensic Med Pathol.2005;26 :28– 32
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  24. ↵
    Kemp JS, Unger B, Wilkins D, et al. Unsafe sleep practices and an analysis of bedsharing among infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly: results of a four-year population-based, death-scene investigation study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and related deaths. Pediatrics.2000;106 (3). Available at: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/106/3/e41
  25. ↵
    Matthews TJ, Menacker F, MacDorman MF. Infant mortality statistics for the 2002 period linked birth/infant death data set. Natl Vital Stat Rep.2004;53 (10):1–29
  26. ↵
    National Center for Health Statistics. Vital statistics of the US, 1983–1994. In: Volume 1: Mortality. Hyattsville, MD: US Department of Health and Senior Services; 1994
  27. ↵
    Department of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data (NJSHAD) Query System. Infant death statistics for the state of New Jersey. Available at: http://njshad.doh.state.nj.us/welcome.html. Accessed April 7, 2006
  28. ↵
    Willinger M, Hoffman HJ, Wu KT, et al. Factors associated with the transition to nonprone sleep positions of infants in the United States: the National Infant Sleep Position Study. JAMA.1998;280 :329– 335
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  29. ↵
    Ostfeld BM, Hegyi T, Denk CE. Newborn sleep position and SIDS risk in New Jersey, 2002: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Available at: www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/brief_sleeping.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2006
  30. ↵
    Moon RY, Weese-Mayer DE, Silvestri JM. Nighttime child care: inadequate SIDS risk factor knowledge, practice and policies. Pediatrics.2003;111 :795– 799
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  31. ↵
    Colson ER, Joslin SC. Changing nursery practice gets inner-city infants in the supine position. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2002;156 :717– 720
    OpenUrlPubMed
  32. ↵
    Ostfeld BM, Esposito L, Straw D, Burgos J, Hegyi T. An inner-city school-based program to promote early awareness of risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. J Adolesc Health.2005;37 :339– 341
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  33. ↵
    Hauck FR, Moore CM, Herman SM, et al. The contribution of prone sleeping position to the racial disparity in sudden infant death syndrome: the Chicago Infant Mortality Study. Pediatrics.2002;110 :772– 780
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  34. ↵
    US Census Bureau, Housing and Economic Statistics Division, Small Area Estimates Branch. Poverty estimates for NJ counties. Available at: www.census.gov. Accessed March 10, 2006
  35. ↵
    US Census Bureau. Small area health insurance estimates. Available at: www.census.gov/hhes/www/sahie/data.html. Accessed March 10, 2006
  36. ↵
    Papacek EM, Collins JW, Schulte NF, Goergen C, Drolet A. Differing postneonatal mortality rates of African-American and white infants in Chicago: an ecologic study. Matern Child Health J.2002;6 :99– 105
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  37. ↵
    Howell EA, Mora PA, Horowitz CR, Leventhal H. Racial and ethnic differences in factors associated with early postpartum depressive symptoms. Obstet Gynecol.2005;105 :1442– 1450
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  38. ↵
    Chung EK, McCollum KF, Elo IT, Lee HJ, Culhane JF. Maternal depressive symptoms and infant health practices among low-income women. Pediatrics.2004;113 (6). Available at: www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/113/6/e523
  39. ↵
    Gartner IM, Morton J, Lawrence RA, et al. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics.2005;115 :496– 505
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  40. ↵
    Eidelman AI, Gartner LM. Bed sharing with unimpaired parents is not an important risk for sudden infant death syndrome [letter to the editor]. Pediatrics.2006;117 :991– 992
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  41. ↵
    Kattwinkel J, Hauck FR, Moon RY, Malloy M, Willinger M. Bed sharing with unimpaired parents is not an important risk for sudden infant death syndrome [reply to letter to the editor]. Pediatrics.2006;117 :994– 996
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  42. ↵
    Kinney HC, Filiano JJ, White WF. Medullary serotonergic network deficiency in the sudden infant death syndrome: review of a 15-year study of a single dataset. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol.2001;60 :228– 247
    OpenUrlPubMed
  • Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
PreviousNext
Back to top

Advertising Disclaimer »

In this issue

Pediatrics
Vol. 118, Issue 5
November 2006
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
View this article with LENS
PreviousNext
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Sleep Environment, Positional, Lifestyle, and Demographic Characteristics Associated With Bed Sharing in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases: A Population-Based Study
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Request Permissions
Article Alerts
Log in
You will be redirected to aap.org to login or to create your account.
Or Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Citation Tools
Sleep Environment, Positional, Lifestyle, and Demographic Characteristics Associated With Bed Sharing in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases: A Population-Based Study
Barbara M. Ostfeld, Harold Perl, Linda Esposito, Katherine Hempstead, Robert Hinnen, Alissa Sandler, Paula Goldblatt Pearson, Thomas Hegyi
Pediatrics Nov 2006, 118 (5) 2051-2059; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0176

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Sleep Environment, Positional, Lifestyle, and Demographic Characteristics Associated With Bed Sharing in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases: A Population-Based Study
Barbara M. Ostfeld, Harold Perl, Linda Esposito, Katherine Hempstead, Robert Hinnen, Alissa Sandler, Paula Goldblatt Pearson, Thomas Hegyi
Pediatrics Nov 2006, 118 (5) 2051-2059; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0176
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Print
Download PDF
Insight Alerts
  • Table of Contents

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • METHODS
    • RESULTS
    • DISCUSSION
    • CONCLUSIONS
    • Acknowledgments
    • Footnotes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • Comments

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Evidence Base for 2016 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
  • SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
  • SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Evidence Base for 2016 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
  • SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
  • SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
  • Concurrent Risks in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  • Hyperchloraemic acidosis in patients given rapid isotonic saline infusions * Sudden infant death, bed-sharing and dummies: authors' reply
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Uncertainty at the Limits of Viability: A Qualitative Study of Antenatal Consultations
  • Evaluation of an Emergency Department High-risk Bruising Screening Protocol
  • Time to First Onset of Chest Binding–Related Symptoms in Transgender Youth
Show more Articles

Similar Articles

Subjects

  • Fetus/Newborn Infant
    • Fetus/Newborn Infant
    • SIDS
  • Journal Info
  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Policies
  • Overview
  • Licensing Information
  • Authors/Reviewers
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit My Manuscript
  • Open Access
  • Reviewer Guidelines
  • Librarians
  • Institutional Subscriptions
  • Usage Stats
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
  • Media Kit
  • About
  • International Access
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • FAQ
  • AAP.org
  • shopAAP
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Instagram
  • Visit American Academy of Pediatrics on Facebook
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Twitter
  • Follow American Academy of Pediatrics on Youtube
  • RSS
American Academy of Pediatrics

© 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics