– How does co sleeping cause SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)?

Question

– How does co sleeping cause SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Co-sleeping does not cause SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and shouldn’t be confused with bed sharing which can cause SUID (sudden unexpected infant death).

Co-sleeping is having the baby in a bassinet next to the parent’s bed, close to the parent’s bed or in the same room as the parents. There is evidence that co-sleeping actually helps prevent SIDS because the parent/s can tell if baby is in distress and help them.

Bed sharing, where the baby is in the bed with the parents is not considered safe due to the chance of baby being suffocated by sheets/covers being pulled over them or being suffocated by a parent who rolls over on them. Adult mattresses are generally too soft, not giving baby the support they need. Bed sharing deaths fall under the sudden unexpected infant death(SUID) category.

There was a recent study that may explain why babies die of SIDS, the reason being they lack an enzyme that helps regulate breathing. I’ll try to find it and add in an edit.

Edit: did a bit more reading and the research and science stating there is an explanation for SIDS would appear to be not as clear cut as it’s been reported and there are reasons to doubt the study.