Swedish survey of infant sleep practices showed increased bed‐sharing and positive associations with breastfeeding

AIM: Many countries lack monitoring of infant sleep practices, despite associations with sudden infant death. We studied sleep positions, bed‐sharing and breastfeeding in a new birth cohort. METHODS: Data were obtained from a prospective, population‐based cohort study of children born in western Sweden in 2018. The parents of 9,465 six‐month‐old infants, via postal questionnaires, were asked about their infants’ sleeping positions at three and six months, including where they slept and any bed‐sharing arrangements. The data were compared with our earlier 2003–2004 birth cohort. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by the parents of 3,590 (38%) infants. At three months, 54% of the infants slept in a separate cot in their parents’ room. A further 43% slept in their parents’ bed: 42% in baby nests and 42% in close contact with their parents. At six months, 33% bed‐shared, compared with 20% in 2003–2004 (p < 0.001). Bed‐sharing was positively associated with breastfeeding (odds ratio at three months: 1.5–2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.5). CONCLUSION: Most infants slept in separate cots during the first three months. However, bed‐sharing showed an increasing trend and baby nests were popular. Bed‐sharing was positively associated with breastfeeding, but the association may not be causal.