Bed-sharing in infancy: A literature review and study proposal Cammie Lewis RN, BSN MN/NP(F) student University of Victoria When the light turns green you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots? Shel Silverstein
Background
Proposed Study
The practice of bed-sharing with infants is evolutionary and is common practice in North America. In recent years the safety of bed-sharing has been questioned and medical recommendations have been made against it.
An exploration of the relationship between recommendations against co-sleeping and the duration of breast-feeding.
Research Design
In one Canadian study, 72% of mothers reported bedsharing with their infants.
Using a descriptive correlational design the author will develop a semi-structured questionnaire that will be administered to mothers of newborn infants via telephone interview. The interviews will be conducted at 6 weeks post-partum, 3, 6 & 12 months and questions will be asked in three categories.
Objective To identify what cross-cultural knowledge has already been established on the risks and benefits of bed-sharing and to determine if there is an approach to safely support the practice of co-sleeping.
1. Sleeping methods: Where does your infant sleep at night? 2. Sources of influence: What influenced your choice of sleeping method? 3. Feeding method: What feeding method do you currently use?
Bed-sharing is defined as the practice of sharing a sleep surface between an adult and an infant.
Results Benefits Increases rate and duration of breastfeeding Increases bonding time Increases maternal vigilance Decreased maternal depression
Risks Increases risk of SIDS in infants under 12 weeks, or when bed-sharing on an unsafe surface Risk of death due to overlying or airway obstruction.
Promotes skin-to skin contact
Did you know? Bed-sharing practices vary greatly around the world. In Singapore it is common for children to bed-share with their parents into late adolescence.
Conclusion It is questionable whether bed-sharing is an independent risk factor in SIDS. What is clear is that bed-sharing is strongly correlated with increased breastfeeding rates and duration. In light of the undisputed benefits of breast-feeding consider how recommendations against bed-sharing influence the practice of breast-feeding.
Literature Cited Blair, P. S., Heron, J., & Fleming, P. J. (2010). Relationship between bed sharing and breastfeeding: Longitudinal, population-based analysis. Pediatrics, 126(5), 996-996. Hanson, L. (2009). Exploring bed-sharing mothers' motives and decision-making for getting through the night intact: A grounded theory. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 54(5), 423-423. Taylor, N., Donovan, W., & Leavitt, L. (2008). Consistency in infant sleeping arrangements and mother-infant interaction. Infant Mental Health Journal, 29(2), 77-94. doi:10B.1002/imhj.20170 Vennemann, M. M., Hense, H. W., Bajanowski, T., Blair, P. S., Complojer, C., Moon, R. Y., & Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, U. (2012). Bed sharing and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome: Can we resolve the debate? Journal of Pediatrics, 160(1), 44-48.e2.
Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the contributions of Anastasia Mallidou, University of Victoria.