In the US, 6 out every 1,000 babies don’t survive their first year. Life for a newborn is riskier than a full year of active duty in Afghanistan was in 2011 (source).

This number seems high, but most of these deaths are not suffocation-related. In fact, roughly 50% occur within 24 hours post-natal (source). Suffocation appears to account for about 1 in 10,000. This risk is on par with the fatality risk of a year of driving, giving birth in the UK (it’s twice as risky to give in the US, ~2 deaths per 10,000), or riding 600 miles on a motorcycle. (Source is Norm Chronicles again)

So, everybody here is going to tell you no. Yet you cannot eliminate risk entirely. Everybody here takes risks with their children’s lives and with their own on a daily basis, being alive is inherently risky. But if you are going to risk it, you’d better have a good reason. Otherwise it’s kinda like not wearing a seatbelt.

My wife and I break the AAP’s recommendation by not sleeping in the same room as baby. This works for us. Baby is still alive. They used to give babies all sorts of toys in the crib. They also used to give babies heroin, and the IMR used to be much higher. You’re a parent now, so you can make these decisions for yourself. (But I do not recommend giving her heroin.)