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
2024 46
2023 134
2022 185
2021 187
2020 162
2019 140
2018 163
2017 142
2016 158
2015 159
2014 200
2013 169
2012 167
2011 174

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.

  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

fiscal year through 03/08/24

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 0
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 46
Total Fatalities 46
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 44
1-3 years 2
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 46
Gender Fatalities
Male 26
Female 20
Unknown 0
Total 46
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 17
Anglo 12
Hispanic 15
Other 2
Total 46

fiscal year through 08/31/23

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 16
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 118
Total Fatalities 134
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 131
1-3 years 3
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 134
Gender Fatalities
Male 75
Female 59
Unknown 0
Total 134
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 42
Anglo 36
Hispanic 52
Other 4
Total 134

fiscal year through 8/31/22

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 13
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 172
Total Fatalities 185
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 182
1-3 years 3
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 185
Gender Fatalities
Male 108
Female 76
Unknown 1
Total 185
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 61
Anglo 50
Hispanic 63
Other 11
Total 185

fiscal year through 8/31/21

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 28
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 159
Total Fatalities 187
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 183
1-3 years 4
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 187
Gender Fatalities
Male 97
Female 90
Unknown 0
Total 187
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 68
Anglo 32
Hispanic 77
Other 10
Total 187

fiscal year through 8/31/20

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 34
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 128
Total Fatalities 162
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 161
1-3 years 1
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 162
Gender Fatalities
Male 103
Female 59
Unknown 0
Total 162
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 50
Anglo 41
Hispanic 61
Other 10
Total 162

fiscal year through 8/31/19

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 8
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 132
Total Fatalities 140
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 135
1-3 years 5
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 140
Gender Fatalities
Male 64
Female 75
Unknown 1
Total 140
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 43
Anglo 46
Hispanic 42
Other 9
Total 140

fiscal year through 8/31/18

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 22
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 141
Total Fatalities 163
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 157
1-3 years 6
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 163
Gender Fatalities
Male 104
Female 58
Unknown 1
Total 163
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 54
Anglo 44
Hispanic 57
Other 8
Total 163

fiscal year through 8/31/17

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 15
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 127
Total Fatalities 142
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 141
1-3 years 1
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 142
Gender Fatalities
Male 79
Female 62
Unknown 1
Total 142
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 54
Anglo 39
Hispanic 42
Other 7
Total 142

fiscal year through 8/31/16

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 25
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 133
Total Fatalities 158
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 153
1-3 years 5
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 158
Gender Fatalities
Male 95
Female 63
Total 158
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 52
Anglo 46
Hispanic 55
Other 5
Total 158

fiscal year through 8/31/15

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 19
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 140
Total Fatalities 159
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 156
1-3 years 3
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 159
Gender Fatalities
Male 90
Female 69
Total 159
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 49
Anglo 45
Hispanic 50
Other 15
Total 159

fiscal year through 8/31/14

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 23
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 177
Total Fatalities 200
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 196
1-3 years 4
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 200
Gender Fatalities
Male 113
Female 87
Total 200
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 65
Anglo 55
Hispanic 71
Other 9
Total 200

fiscal year through 8/31/13

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 17
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 152
Total Fatalities 169
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 163
1-3 years 6
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 169
Gender Fatalities
Male 90
Female 79
Total 169
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 53
Anglo 38
Hispanic 72
Other 6
Total 169

fiscal year through 8/31/12

Category Fatalities
Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 28
Non-Abuse/Neglect Related Fatalities 139
Total Fatalities 167
Age Fatalities
Under 1 year 161
1-3 years 6
4-6 years 0
Over 6 years 0
Total 167
Gender Fatalities
Male 94
Female 73
Total 167
Race/Ethnicity Fatalities
African American 54
Anglo 53
Hispanic 54
Other 6
Total 167