Experts Say 'No Nursery' For First Year: Why Parents Should Start Rooming With Their Baby

By SheSpeaksTeam Oct 27, 2016

You may want to hold off on all the intricate details you are planning for your baby’s nursery for a little while and clear out an extra space in your bedroom. Some new research from the American Academy of Pediatrics is advising parents to sleep in the same room with their babies for the first 6 months to a full year in order to greatly reduce their risk of SIDS.

NPR reports about the new recommendations and what that could mean for millions of bleary-eyed parents who just want a good night’s sleep. Though many new parents think monitors work just fine and allow them to stay connected with their baby without actually being in the same room, experts are now saying this just isn’t enough.

The new study is very extensive looking at close to 12,000 SIDS cases over a period of a decade, from 2004 - 2014. What researchers found was that by bringing baby’s crib into the bedroom with parents, the SIDS risk is reduced by a whopping 50%. The mechanism of why this is the case is not clear, but possibly a parent is more likely to sense their baby is in distress if they are close by.

Experts also warn that parents who sleep in the same bedroom with their baby should keep the infant in their crib and avoid bringing them into the adult bed. Lead author of the study Rachel Moon warns, “Parents should never place the baby on a sofa, couch, or cushioned chair, either alone or sleeping with another person. We know that these surfaces are extremely hazardous.”

What do you think of the new recommendations from the AAP advising parents to room with their babies for the first 6 months to a year?

Did you room with your baby and for how long?