Contrary to popular notion that sharing a bed with parents could be risky for a baby, the recent research showed that sharing a bed with an infant doesn't elevate the risk of cot death. Parents across Britain are usually advised that it is safer for all children under the age of six months to be put in a cot in their parents' room.

The British study revealed that if parents avoid some risk factors its absolutely safe for the baby to share the cot with parents. The risk factors are parents drinking alcohol, smoking or taking drugs, use of heavy bedding, adult pillows and soft mattresses, and when parents were "excessively tired" - defined as having had less than four hours sleep the night before.

Researchers also found that infants are at the greatest risk of all if they and their parents fell asleep on sofas.

Lead Researcher, Dr Peter Blair, from the University of Bristol said, "This study shows that it is not co-sleeping that is unsafe, but the circumstances under which some parents co-sleep that create risks."