The safety of bed-sharing depends significantly on circumstances. The SIDS risk associated with bed-sharing is higher in some situations (parental smoking, alcohol consumption, sofa/armchair sleeping) and more moderate in others (non-smoking parents, breastfeeding, safe mattress). The evidence supports informed risk assessment rather than a blanket prohibition.

What's the safest way to bed-share if we choose to?

The key risk factors to avoid are: parental smoking (before or after birth), alcohol or sedating medication, extreme fatigue, soft surfaces or loose bedding. Breastfeeding is associated with lower risk. The Safe Sleep Seven is a widely cited framework for reducing risk if parents choose to bed-share.

Does contact sleeping create dependency?

Not in any lasting sense. The research does not show that babies who are held or slept in contact develop worse long-term sleep than babies who sleep independently from early on. Sleep independence develops over time across all sleep arrangements.

Contact Sleeping Complete guide

Contact Sleeping: Safety, Evidence, and Making Informed Choices

Many parents find their babies sleep better in contact — in arms, on the chest, or alongside them. This guide explores the safety evidence and what responsive nighttime care actually looks like.

By Editorial Team Updated 26 March 2026 1 min read

This pillar page is coming soon. The articles in this series are available below.

Contact sleeping — sleeping in arms, on the chest, or alongside a parent — is one of the most common things new parents do and one of the least discussed. This guide will examine what the safety evidence actually shows, how to reduce risks if you’re contact sleeping, and the broader context of responsive nighttime parenting.

Full content coming soon.

Common questions

Is bed-sharing safe?: The safety of bed-sharing depends significantly on circumstances. The SIDS risk associated with bed-sharing is higher in some situations (parental smoking, alcohol consumption, sofa/armchair sleeping) and more moderate in others (non-smoking parents, breastfeeding, safe mattress). The evidence supports informed risk assessment rather than a blanket prohibition.
What's the safest way to bed-share if we choose to?: The key risk factors to avoid are: parental smoking (before or after birth), alcohol or sedating medication, extreme fatigue, soft surfaces or loose bedding. Breastfeeding is associated with lower risk. The Safe Sleep Seven is a widely cited framework for reducing risk if parents choose to bed-share.
Does contact sleeping create dependency?: Not in any lasting sense. The research does not show that babies who are held or slept in contact develop worse long-term sleep than babies who sleep independently from early on. Sleep independence develops over time across all sleep arrangements.