Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review

Background. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of bed sharing during infancy—while it has been shown to facilitate breastfeeding and provide protection against hypothermia, it has been identified as a risk factor for SIDS. Methods. A systematic search of major databases...

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Main Authors: Rashmi Ranjan Das, M. Jeeva Sankar, Ramesh Agarwal, Vinod Kumar Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/468538
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author Rashmi Ranjan Das
M. Jeeva Sankar
Ramesh Agarwal
Vinod Kumar Paul
author_facet Rashmi Ranjan Das
M. Jeeva Sankar
Ramesh Agarwal
Vinod Kumar Paul
author_sort Rashmi Ranjan Das
collection DOAJ
description Background. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of bed sharing during infancy—while it has been shown to facilitate breastfeeding and provide protection against hypothermia, it has been identified as a risk factor for SIDS. Methods. A systematic search of major databases was conducted. Eligible studies were observational studies that enrolled infants in the first 4 weeks of life and followed them up for a variable period of time thereafter. Results. A total of 21 studies were included. Though the quality of evidence was low, bed sharing was found to be associated with higher breastfeeding rates at 4 weeks of age (75.5% versus 50%, OR 3.09 (95% CI 2.67 to 3.58), P=0.043) and an increased risk of SIDS (23.3% versus 11.2%, OR 2.36 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.83), P=0.025). Majority of the studies were from developed countries, and the effect was almost consistent across the studies. Conclusion. There is low quality evidence that bed sharing is associated with higher breast feeding rates at 4 weeks of age and an increased risk of SIDS. We need more studies that look at bed sharing, breast feeding, and hazardous circumstance that put babies at risk.
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spelling doaj-art-393462ad7b034dd987da7bc0b982a9482025-02-03T01:12:50ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592014-01-01201410.1155/2014/468538468538Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic ReviewRashmi Ranjan Das0M. Jeeva Sankar1Ramesh Agarwal2Vinod Kumar Paul3Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751019, IndiaNewborn Health and Knowledge Centre (NHKC), Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, IndiaNewborn Health and Knowledge Centre (NHKC), Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, IndiaNewborn Health and Knowledge Centre (NHKC), Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, IndiaBackground. There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of bed sharing during infancy—while it has been shown to facilitate breastfeeding and provide protection against hypothermia, it has been identified as a risk factor for SIDS. Methods. A systematic search of major databases was conducted. Eligible studies were observational studies that enrolled infants in the first 4 weeks of life and followed them up for a variable period of time thereafter. Results. A total of 21 studies were included. Though the quality of evidence was low, bed sharing was found to be associated with higher breastfeeding rates at 4 weeks of age (75.5% versus 50%, OR 3.09 (95% CI 2.67 to 3.58), P=0.043) and an increased risk of SIDS (23.3% versus 11.2%, OR 2.36 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.83), P=0.025). Majority of the studies were from developed countries, and the effect was almost consistent across the studies. Conclusion. There is low quality evidence that bed sharing is associated with higher breast feeding rates at 4 weeks of age and an increased risk of SIDS. We need more studies that look at bed sharing, breast feeding, and hazardous circumstance that put babies at risk.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/468538
spellingShingle Rashmi Ranjan Das
M. Jeeva Sankar
Ramesh Agarwal
Vinod Kumar Paul
Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
International Journal of Pediatrics
title Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
title_full Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
title_short Is “Bed Sharing” Beneficial and Safe during Infancy? A Systematic Review
title_sort is bed sharing beneficial and safe during infancy a systematic review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/468538
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