Dr McKenna at Notre Dame does research in this area [1].
Apparently the biggest risks (from what I recall) is the typical 'western' bed contains a lot of obstructions and places to get trapped: headboards, blankets and sheets, etc. Japan has one of the lower SIDS rates, and co-sleeping is very common there -- but beds are low to the ground, and I guess heavy bedding is uncommon.
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Dr McKenna at Notre Dame does research in this area [1].
Apparently the biggest risks (from what I recall) is the typical 'western' bed contains a lot of obstructions and places to get trapped: headboards, blankets and sheets, etc. Japan has one of the lower SIDS rates, and co-sleeping is very common there -- but beds are low to the ground, and I guess heavy bedding is uncommon.
http://cosleeping.nd.edu
Are SIDS and co-sleeping linked? It appears that SIDS is actually reduced by properly co-sleeping (non-smoking, non-drug-impaired parent) [1]
[1] http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/sleep-probl...