Pediatricians: Babies Should Sleep In Same Room As Parents

UNDATED - The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for infants to be kept in their parents' bedroom at night for six months to a year in order to lessen the risk of sleep-related death.

Having your child sleep in the room with you does not require expensive monitoring or equipment. You can just have them in the room with you. You're a little more attune to their sleep-wake cycles, and you're right there if  you hear something or if something is going on.

Laurie Black is with the Family Birthing Center in St. Cloud. She stresses your baby should sleep in a separate area though, such as a crib or a bassinet.

Other recommendations include always placing a baby on its back to sleep and avoiding use of crib bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says about 3,500 infants suffer sleep-related deaths every year in the U.S. Sharing your room with your baby reduces the risk by as much as 50 percent.