Health bodies and breastfeeding associations disagree over babies sharing a bed
We reviewed what 106 authorities, hospitals, medical associations and breastfeeding and parent organisations across 32 countries say about sharing a bed with your child. Almost everything they write focuses on babies. Healthcare organisations, including authorities, hospitals and doctors, generally advise against sharing a bed with a baby. Breastfeeding and parent organisations are more likely to describe it as a choice and offer advice on making it safer.
What this means
- The disagreement is about babies: should parents be discouraged altogether from sharing a bed with a baby, or given advice on making it as safe as possible?
- In almost every country, the divide is between the healthcare sector on one side and breastfeeding and parent organisations on the other.
- Several official sources do both: they say that the baby's own bed is safest, while also offering advice to those who share a bed.
- Most say nothing about older children. Only 17 of the 106 mention them, and most take a relaxed view. Read what they say below.
We've read what 5 organisations in USA say about bed-sharing: 2 advise against sharing a bed with a baby, 2 call it a choice and offer advice on making it safer and 1 takes no position.
Who supports sharing a bed with a baby, and who opposes it?
The 106 organisations, grouped by organisation type. The number in each colour shows how many organisations there are.
Healthcare sector75 organisations: 7 describe it as a choice, 22 say an own bed is safest but offer advice, 42 advise against it
Breastfeeding and parenting organisations31 organisations: 21 describe it as a choice, 5 say an own bed is safest but offer advice, 2 advise against it
- Describes it as a choice: describe it as the parents’ choice and offer advice on making it safer
- Says a separate bed is safest, but offers guidance: say the baby is safest in their own bed but offer advice to those who share a bed
- Advises against it: advise against sharing a bed with a baby
- Takes no position
Source: The organisations’ own websites and leaflets, read and checked on 30 October 2026.
You may use the count and summary under these terms. The organisations' own texts and quotes belong to the organisations.
The advice is about babies. We report what the organisations say. FamBed does not offer advice on babies’ sleep. See the official guidance.
What do organisations in your country say?
Select a country to read what the organisations say: a short explanation in Danish and their own words in the original language. The bar in each box shows the breakdown.
USA
5 organisations
Describes it as a choice2
Recommends that professionals discuss bed-sharing with every family without judgement and offer risk-reduction guidance, including when specific risk factors mean that bed-sharing should be discouraged.
In their own words:“Conversations when a family is bedsharing should be nonjudgmental and acknowledge context.”Source
Describes several possible family sleeping arrangements, including bed-sharing and a separate sidecar cot, and advises keeping a younger sibling away from the infant during sleep.
In their own words:“One would be to have the toddler sleep away from the baby”Source
Says a separate bed is safest, but offers guidance0
No organisations in this country
Advises against it2
Advises against bed-sharing with infants under any circumstances and recommends a separate sleep space in the same room for at least the first six months.
In their own words:“the AAP recommends that parents avoid bed sharing with their baby under any circumstances”Source
Advises against bed-sharing and recommends that the child sleeps in their own sleep space in the same room.
In their own words:“Room sharing without bed sharing is the safest option.”Source
Bed-sharing: the baby sleeps in the parents' bed. Room-sharing: the baby sleeps in their own bed in the parents' bedroom. SIDS: sudden infant death syndrome.
Takes no position1
Offers guidance on risks and different sleeping arrangements rather than recommending a single solution for everyone, and recommends a separate sleep surface close to the mother for bottle-fed infants.
In their own words:“I do not recommend to any parents any particular type of sleeping arrangement”Source
You may use the count and summary under these terms. The organisations' own texts and quotes belong to the organisations.
What do they say about older children?
Only 17 of the 106 organisations mention children who are no longer babies. Most take a relaxed view, but three also advise against bed-sharing with older children. Here is a brief summary in Danish of what they say.
- AustriaLa Leche Liga Österreich Says a child can sleep well in their own bed when they are ready. Source
- AustriaOberösterreichische Gesundheitsholding (OÖG) The booklet says there is no reason to avoid a family bed from the child's second year, provided the parents do not find it disruptive. Source
- AustriaÖsterreichische Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (ÖGKJ) The association's 2020 sleep leaflet recommends that toddlers and school-age children have their own bed near the parents' bedroom. Source
- DenmarkSundhed.dk - Patienthåndbogen The article on children under three generally states that they should not sleep in the same bed as their parents. Source
- FinlandUniliitto Sets no recommended upper age limit for when families should stop using a family bed, leaving them to choose the arrangement that suits them. Source
- GermanyArbeitsgemeinschaft Freier Stillgruppen e.V. (AFS) The information leaflet recommends keeping the child close to their parents and mentions a separate bedroom for the child from the age of two. Source
- IcelandLjósmæðrafélag Íslands The page states that children who sleep with their parents eventually become accustomed to sleeping in their own bed. Source
- ItalyUppa Another article takes a positive view of co-sleeping in response to the child's needs and leaves parents to choose between a bed and an attached bedside cot. Source
- LuxembourgInitiativ Liewensufank The organisation's parenting magazine describes the family bed as a longer-term solution for some families. Source
- PolandPoradnia Psychologiczno-Pedagogiczna nr 16 - Praga-Południe The material's section on the youngest children also covers children aged 1–5, but does not specify an exact age limit for the advice on bed-sharing. Source
- PolandDOZ.pl The article mentions a parent's presence in the bed as a possible example of a sleep association, without specifying an age limit. Source
- Sweden1177 Describes co-sleeping as an arrangement that works for some older children and their parents. Source
- SwedenAkademiska sjukhuset Describes a 'jättesäng' made by joining beds together as a practical solution for children over one year old and their families. Source
- SwitzerlandUniversitäts-Kinderspital Zürich, Zentrum für Schlafmedizin From the child's second year, the guide sees no reason to avoid a family bed, provided the parents do not find it disruptive. Source
- The NetherlandsLa Leche League Nederland Advises against toddlers or older children sharing a bed with a baby. Source
- The NetherlandsNederlands Centrum Jeugdgezondheid The centre’s sleep guideline notes an observed association between bed-sharing and sleep problems in children aged 0-5, while also pointing out that bed-sharing may be a response to sleep problems. Source
- USAAttachment Parenting International Describes a family bed as an option for a young child and also suggests a gradual transition to their own bed or mattress. Source
You may use the count and summary under these terms. The organisations' own texts and quotes belong to the organisations.
All 106 organisations, country by country
Takes no position: Frühe Hilfen Österreich (Austria), UNICEF Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Baby Sleep Information Source (BASIS), Durham University (United Kingdom), NCT (United Kingdom), Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory, University of Notre Dame (USA), Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Portugal), Szoptatásért Magyar Egyesület (Hungary).
The largest online profiles
Blogs, podcasts, organisations and people on Instagram and TikTok who write about co-sleeping. Ranked by follower count on their largest channel, as recorded on 30/10-2026. We excluded posts that were paid advertisements for FamBed or other bed brands, and none of them speak on behalf of FamBed.
- 1Marta (@martamie)influencerCountry not specified6.9mfollowers on TikTok
- 2Francesca Faragoreality TV starCanada5.7mfollowers on Instagram
- 3Kenza Zouiteninfluencer and entrepreneurSweden2.0mfollowers on Instagram
- 4Anna Maria DammmodelGermany2.0mfollowers on Instagram
- 5Katie BuntoninfluencerUnited Kingdom798,100followers on TikTok
- 6Hey Sleepy Babysleep consultant (courses)USA591,418followers on Instagram
- 7Scott GallowayprofessorUSA454,500followers on TikTok
- 8Tiziri Digne (married to footballer Lucas Digne)influencer and reality TV personalityFrance414,000followers on Instagram
- 9Isabella Löwengripentrepreneur and influencerSweden376,000followers on Instagram
- 10Raised Goodparenting brand/blog (gentle parenting, breastfeeding) · co-sleeping is a regular topicCanada364,573followers on Instagram
- 11UPPAparenting publisher/magazineItaly363,188followers on Facebook
- 12KellyMombreastfeeding websiteUSA335,830followers on Facebook
- 13Lisa Schrenk (@_10imglueck_)family influencer (Vienna, ten children)Austria280,000followers on Instagram
- 14Alba Padró / LactAppbreastfeeding app/blogSpain247,554followers on Instagram
- 15Yvonne Labordahumanistic therapist, conscious parenting mentor and authorSpain232,607followers on Instagram
You may use the list and count under these terms. The profiles and their content belong to their respective owners.
How we calculated it
The selection: Authorities, hospitals, professional associations, research centres, and breastfeeding and parenting organisations across 32 countries, including countries outside Europe. We opened every source and checked every quote word for word on 30/10-2026. One organisation was removed because the position turned out to belong to another organisation.
The three groups: “Calls it a choice” describes bed-sharing with a baby positively or as the parents' choice and offers advice on making it safer. “Says a separate bed is safest, but offers advice” accepts bed-sharing under certain conditions or from a certain age. “Advises against it” advises against bed-sharing with a baby, although some still offer advice if it happens.
Terms used in the explanations: Bed-sharing means that the baby sleeps in the parents' bed. Room-sharing means that the baby sleeps in their own bed in the parents' bedroom. SIDS is the English term for cot death.
“Authorities, hospitals and others” mainly covers authorities and hospitals, but also includes health information websites, foundations and two UNICEF offices.
The quotes appear in their original language. The short explanations in Danish are ours. We have not reproduced four quotes word for word because they claim health benefits or downplay the risk of SIDS. The organisations' positions are still included in the overview.
The profiles: Follower counts are taken from each profile's largest channel, as shown on the platform's public page on 30/10-2026. We have not combined follower counts across channels. The list includes profiles where co-sleeping is a regular topic or that have published a post or article about it. Paid ads for FamBed or other bed and mattress brands are not included.