News - Media release - Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee advises on safe sleeping

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Safe sleeping is about the right balance of closeness and safety says the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC).

Infants in the first 6 months of life are safest if they sleep in the same room as their parents.

Infants should sleep on their backs on a firm surface with nothing around e.g. pillows, pads or bed coverings, that can move to cover their face and interfere with breathing.

“The key messages are - Back to sleep. Face free and clear”, says Dr Nick Baker, Chair of the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee. “Infants sleeping in spaces not designed for infant sleeping, like couches, adult mattresses or bean bags are at increased risk. In particular, couch sleeping seems to put infants at risk.”

Bed sharing has been going on for many thousands of years and it has been long recognised as an activity which can be unsafe for infants. Risks associated with “overlaying” were even described in the bible.

“Health professionals now better understand some of the risks, and we have a duty to share our knowledge with parents so they have the information they need to keep their baby safe”, says Dr Baker.

Parents need to know that in the first 3 months of life bed sharing carries an increased risk of sudden infant death. The CYMRC advises “Bed sharing is fine for breastfeeding and cuddles, but babies should be in their own bed when parents go to sleep”.

When extra infant or parent risks factors are present the risks are even greater and last longer than 3 months.

Infants are more vulnerable if they are very small, were born prematurely, exposed to smoke in the womb, are weak or floppy or have malformations of face and airway.
Risk factors that stem from the parent can include being very tired, intoxicated, obese, being a smoker or a very heavy sleeper.

“A good arrangement for sleeping is to have the infant on a safe sleeping surface of their own alongside their parents’ bed, allowing easy access for breast feeding, an activity that should be strongly encouraged”, says Dr Baker.

ENDS

See also the CYMRC Website and the Fourth Report to the Minister of Health.
1. http://www.cymrc.health.govt.nz
2. http://www.cymrc.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7531/$File/cymrc-fourth-annual-report.pdf

Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee

Te Rōpū Arotake Auau Mate o te Hunga Tamariki, Taiohi

News and Updates

Media Releases

Safe sleeping is about the right balance of closeness and safety says the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC).