Making your bed safe for your baby

Co-sleeping is when parents and infants sleep together in a bed. A lot of things have been said for and against co-sleeping with babies. From an evolutionary perspective, sharing a bed is the most natural way for babies to sleep. However, parents should take precautions.

Why parents choose to co-sleep with their babies
Parents choose to have their babies sleep in bed with them because of the following benefits:

• It makes breastfeeding more convenient during the night
• It brings them closer to their infants, and being close is safer in case something happens
• It enables the nursing mother to adapt her sleep cycle to that of her baby
• It helps babies fall asleep more easily when they wake up in the middle of the night
• It’s very cozy

The dangers of co-sleeping with your baby
While those beliefs are good and some may even be supported by studies, co-sleeping with babies is associated with a lot of risks. Co-sleeping, if not done right, can increase the risk of sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The risk is particularly high for babies born premature, infants less than 4 months old, or when the parents are drinking alcohol or consume drugs before they share a bed with their babies. In all these cases, it is safest for babies to sleep in a cot next to the parent’s bed.

How to ensure the safety of your baby when co-sleeping
If you want to share a bed with Your Child, make your bed safe for your baby:

• Avoid letting pets and other children in bed
• Don’t place a baby on a soft surface to sleep, such as a soft mattress, sofa, or waterbed
• Make your baby sleep on their back to reduce the risk of SIDS
• Ensure the baby won’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the wall and the mattress
• Keep sheets, blankets, and pillows away from your baby and remove any other item that could obstruct your baby’s breathing
• Don’t cover the baby’s head while sleeping
• Don’t fall asleep with the baby on your chest
• Make sure your mattress fits perfectly in the bed frame and there are no openings or cutouts that could trap your baby’s head

When you shouldn’t co-sleep
There are situations in which co-sleeping with your baby can be extremely dangerous. These are some of them:

• Your baby was born premature — before the 38th week
• Your baby was born at a low weight — less than 2.5kg
• Your baby is under 4 months of age — a crib next to the bed is ideal
• Either you or your partner smokes — even if you do not smoke in the bedroom
• Either you or your partner consumed alcohol or any medication that can cause drowsiness
• You are extremely tired or feeling sick
• Don’t sleep on couches, recliners, or rockers with a baby. Sleeping on a sofa or armchair with your baby can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times