[Bedsharing at home, breastfeeding and sudden infant death.Recommendations for health professionals].

The Sudden and Unexpected Infant Death Task Force together with the Subcommittee on Breastfeeding of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría have issued updated recommendations on bedsharing with the parents, a practice which remains controversial. Sleeping with the mother maximizes breastfeeding, which is protective against Sudden Infant Death. There is a small group of infants that have been associated with an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death and fatal sleeping accidents in certain circumstances. These hazards include parental smoking, sedating drugs or medication and alcohol consumption prior to sleep and sofa sharing situations. Bedsharing by breastfeeding mothers with their infants, in the absence of the above-mentioned risk factors, and with parents aware of how to ensure a safe infant sleep environment has not been shown to be associated with increased risk of Sudden Infant Death. This guidance does not advise on telling parents that they must never sleep with the baby, but rather instructs health professionals to give parents balanced advice to allow informed decision making, emphasizing the concept that parental room sharing without bedsharing is the safest place for the babies to sleep