iStock/ThinkstockBy DR. JENNIFER ASHTON, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor

Infants should sleep in the same room as their parents to lower the risk of sleep-related deaths, according to the latest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The AAP is now advising that newborns share their parents’ bedroom, sleeping on a separate firm surface such as a crib or bassinet for at least the first six months of life — and, ideally, the first full year.

Room sharing lowers the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50 percent. However, infants should not share a bed with parents or rest on soft bedding intended for adults.

Approximately 3,500 babies die each year from sleep-related deaths in the U.S., including SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation. So while it may seem safe to snuggle with your baby, don’t do it.

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