Bed-sharing and the infant’s thermal environment in the home setting

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2004-12, Vol.89 (12), p.1111-1116
• Main Authors: Baddock, S A, Galland, B C, Beckers, M G S, Taylor, B J, Bolton, D P G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; bed-sharing; Bedding and Linens - statistics & numerical data; Beds - utilization; Biological and medical sciences; Body temperature; Body Temperature - physiology; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Case-Control Studies; co-sleeping; Evaluation; Female; General aspects; Heating; Humans; Infant; Infant Care - statistics & numerical data; Infant Equipment - utilization; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Influence; Male; Medical sciences; Original; Seasons; SIDS; Sleep; Sleeping customs; Social aspects; Socioeconomic Factors; thermoregulation
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2003.048082

Aims: To study bed-sharing and cot-sleeping infants in the natural setting of their own home in order to identify differences in the thermal characteristics of the two sleep situations and their potential hazards. Methods: Forty routine bed-sharing infants and 40 routine cot-sleeping infants aged 5–27 weeks were individually matched between groups for age and season. Overnight video and physiological data of bed-share infants and cot-sleeping infants were recorded in the infants’ own homes including rectal, shin, and ambient temperature. Results: The mean rectal temperature two hours after sleep onset for bed-share infants was 36.79°C and for cot-sleeping infants, 36.75°C (difference 0.05°C, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.14). The rate of change thereafter was higher in the bed-share group than in the cot group (0.04°C v 0.03°C/h, difference 0.01, 0.00 to 0.02). Bed-share infants had a higher shin temperature at two hours (35.43 v 34.60°C, difference 0.83, 0.18 to 1.49) and a higher rate of change (0.04 v −0.10°C/h, difference 0.13, 0.08 to 0.19). Bed-sharing infants had more bedding. Face covering events were more common and bed-share infants woke and fed more frequently than cot infants (mean wake times/night: 4.6 v 2.5). Conclusions: Bed-share infants experience warmer thermal conditions than those of cot-sleeping infants, but are able to maintain adequate thermoregulation to maintain a normal core temperature.