Health officials in Nunavut are asking Inuit to end the long-standing practice of letting their babies less than one year of age sleep in their beds.

They say the practice, which goes back to the Inuit's nomadic times, could be another risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Infants in Nunavut shouldn't sleep with in their parents' bed with them, say health officials
Infants in Nunavut shouldn't sleep with in their parents' bed with them, say health officials

The cause of SIDS is a mystery, but Nunavut's director of medical affairs, Dr. Sandy MacDonald, says evidence does seem to show babies should not be put to sleep on their stomachs or sides.

One in four children
Almost a quarter of the babies under one year of age who died in Nunavut since 1999 died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

Nunavut's Chief Coroner Tim Neily says 47 babies less than a year old have died in the territory since it was created. Eleven have been classified as SIDS deaths.

Neily says that number may be even higher because seven of the deaths are still under investigation.

"It could be that a number of those seven may be classified eventually as SIDS, we'll have to wait until the individual investigations are completed," he says. "So if some or all of them are classified as SIDS, then that would mean that our total number of SIDS deaths in Nunavut would be approaching between 35 and 40 per cent of the deaths."

The Public Health agency of Canada says three babies die of SIDS in this country each week.

SIDS deaths are three times more likely among Aboriginal babies.

And he says while Inuit have traditionally slept with their babies, the type of bed and bed covers have changed with time.

"It seems to be that in the soft bed, it makes the baby roll over and tend to go onto their prone side, face down, tummy down more often and there increases the risk of dying from SIDS," he said.

""We would certainly advise that babies under one year have a crib of their own, maybe once in a while sleep with mom or dad."

MacDonald added that parents may unintentionally pose a risk to infants by rolling onto them as they sleep. "It should definitely be avoided if you've had a few drinks, or if you're exhausted, more tired than usual or if you're on medication, for whatever reason, that makes you sleep more soundly," he said.

But many Inuit sleep beside their babies, and not all of them believe it's time to change that practice.

Annie Buchan of the Pauktuutit Inuit women's Association says there may be a compromise.

She says when she was growing up in an igloo, babies never slept between their parents, and were often on a slightly raised platform.

She believes that as long as parents have a firm mattress and tight covers, the choice of whether or not to sleep with a baby should be a personal one.

"I think it's up to individuals, you know it's an Inuit tradition, then a lot of mothers would like to sleep with their babies," she said. "I'm sure, you know, if they take proper precautions, then it shouldn't be dangerous."

Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics also warned against sharing a bed with an infant because of the risk of SIDS.

Exposing the baby to smoke during pregnancy or during infancy are also considered risk factors for SIDS.

Buchan and MacDonald agree that smoking is a practice that should definitely be avoided.