New recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics could have parents rearranging their bedroom.
The AAP now says infants should stay in their parents' room, in separate sleeping areas, for six months to a year. The move is an effort to reduce cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Babies should be in a crib or bassinet and never on something soft. The AAP updated its safe-sleep guidance because of studies that suggest room-sharing reduces the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.
Right now, the AAP recommends babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. New parents should also avoid bed sharing, the use of crib bumpers and other soft toys, blankets and pillows.
Each year, there are roughly 3,500 SIDS deaths in the United States. The risk of SIDS is higher in the first six months of a baby's life.
Read more on the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics here.
