The safest way for your baby to sleep
Room-sharing without bed-sharing is the safest way for your baby to sleep. This means your baby sleeps in the same room with you, but in his or her own safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard.
Adult beds are not made for babies. They can interfere with your baby's ability to breathe. Babies can get smothered by soft bedding or trapped between you and the mattress.
Room-sharing allows your baby to be close to you without sharing a sleep surface that could put your baby at risk.
Why Not Bed-Sharing?
Bed-sharing, also known as co-sleeping, creates risks for your baby. How? There are several ways:
- Babies can get stuck between the mattress and wall.
- Sleeping on soft surfaces like an adult mattresses, couches, or recliners can make it hard for a baby to breathe. Very young babies are especially at risk because their neck muscles are not strong enough to turn their head away from anything that may block their nose and mouth.
- Blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows found in adult and child beds can cover a baby's face and cause suffocation.
- When you or an older child shares a sleep surface with a baby, there's a risk of rolling on top of the baby. Even if you think your baby might be safer right next to you, keeping a baby within arm's reach on a separate sleep surface is much safer.
Bed sharing is particularly dangerous if:
- The baby is under three months old.
- There are multiple people in the bed - even other babies.
- An adult is very tired, or is a smoker, or using alcohol, medications or illegal drugs.
Statistics
Total Texas infant deaths where bed-sharing was a factor.
| Fiscal Year | Number of Fatalities |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2024 | 99 |
Note: Caseworkers have recorded these numbers during the normal course of investigations. Each year represents a state fiscal year covering September 1 through August 31.
Detailed Statistics
Total Texas infant deaths where bed-sharing was a factor.
- 2025
- 2024
fiscal year through 03/11/25
| Category | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities | 2 |
| Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities | 42 |
| Total Fatalities | 44 |
| Age | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 43 |
| 1-3 years | 1 |
| 4-6 years | 0 |
| Over 6 years | 0 |
| Total | 44 |
| Gender | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Male | 23 |
| Female | 21 |
| Unknown | 0 |
| Total | 44 |
| Race/Ethnicity | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| African American | 15 |
| Anglo | 8 |
| Hispanic | 17 |
| Other | 4 |
| Total | 44 |
fiscal year through 08/31/24
| Category | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities | 7 |
| Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities | 92 |
| Total Fatalities | 99 |
| Age | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 95 |
| 1-3 years | 4 |
| 4-6 years | 0 |
| Over 6 years | 0 |
| Total | 99 |
| Gender | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Male | 55 |
| Female | 44 |
| Unknown | 0 |
| Total | 99 |
| Race/Ethnicity | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| African American | 29 |
| Anglo | 25 |
| Hispanic | 38 |
| Other | 7 |
| Total | 99 |