Babies who share their parents' beds are more likely to suffer cot death, researchers at one of the State's children's hospitals said today.
A study by experts at Temple Street Children's University Hospital found 49 per cent of infants who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome had been sharing a bed with an adult.
Professor Tom Matthews, head of the national SIDS register at Temple Street, urged mothers and fathers to heed the warning.
"We cannot assert that bed sharing causes SIDS but the statistics reveal a significantly increased amount of risk to infants who do so," the professor said.
"Several studies have indicated that the associated risk of bed sharing applies only to younger babies and babies whose parents smoke, but recent data suggests that even among non-smokers, bed sharing increases the SIDS risk in younger infants."
Professor Matthews said 37 per cent of cases may have been prevented if there was no bed-sharing.
The study also revealed that in the majority of SIDS cases found bed-sharing, 87 per cent had mothers who smoked during pregnancy.
It noted that it is widely accepted that parents who smoke and who have taken drink or drugs, should not share a bed with young infants.
A new website has been launched with recommendations on how to minimise the risk of cot death, and Prof Matthews urged expectant mothers and parents of new born babies to visit www.sidsireland.ie.