As your baby enters the toddler stage, they can graduate to a softer mattress, but in their early months, an infant needs a firm sleeping surface to prevent suffocation. Most new parents are, so take care if you’re behind on sleep. The first of the six safe sleeping recommendations is to sleep baby on their back from birth. University of Notre Dame A safe co-sleeping position is away from all bedding. As the baby grows and enters the toddler stage, he or she will be better prepared for falling asleep in their own room. Co-sleeping is when the baby sleeps near the parents, either in the same bed or the room with them. Room sharing, but not co-sleeping in the same bed, is the safest sleeping arrangement for all babies 0–12 months. There are specific beds, including bassinets, which are made specifically so that parents can get the benefits of bed-sharing without any of the risks. Some of the most popular brands have adjustable heights and rolling wheels on the bottom for versatility and mobility. Waterbeds can be especially dangerous to infants too, and no matter the type of mattress, it should always tightly intersect the bed-frame to leave no gaps or space. In addition to the overly soft surface, there are crevices between and behind the cushions that present a significant hazard. Is My Baby Not Napping Long Enough? What age is co-sleeping safe? Whatever the reasons, bed sharing (also called co-sleeping) is on the rise. If you fall asleep while feeding your infant, place them on their back (and preferably on a separate sleep surface) immediately after you wake up. Aside from never letting an infant sleep outside the presence of a committed adult, i.e. From figuring out how to buy a mattress online, suggesting ones that are good for different needs and body types, or breaking down the newest science behind technology and wellness breakthroughs, Sleep Advisor has you covered. They’ve been attached to their mother for nine months, and the idea of being alone in darkness without mom’s heartbeat could be stressful. Again, make sure that the surface of your bed is firm enough if your baby is sleeping in it and avoid making mistakes like sleeping with your infant when you’re intoxicated or on medication that affects your sleep. A second factor that has a strong influence on safe infant sleep is breastfeeding. Overall, this way of sleeping with your baby has a variety of benefits. Babies should be slept in a clear sleep space, which is easy to create in a cot or Moses basket. Below is a summary that highlights some of the issues to be concerned with as you make your own decisions about where and how your infant should sleep. Regardless of whether an infant sleeps on the same surface as his or her parents, on a same-surface co-sleeper, in a bassinet or in a separate crib, in the same room as their parents or in a separate room, all infants should follow these same guidelines: infants should always sleep on their backs, on firm surfaces, on clean surfaces, in the absence of (secondhand) smoke, under light (comfortable) blanketing, and … Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is heartbreaking. Co-sleeping (often spelled cosleeping, and also known as bed sharing or having a family bed) is the practice of having your infant in your bed with you during sleep.Co-sleeping promotes breastfeeding and bonding, and it is safer than crib/cot sleeping when practiced correctly. And yes, if you’re sleeping, then the baby is, in essence, not fully supervised. (Lullaby Trust 2019) . This same advice applies to sleep medications or prescriptions that induce drowsiness. Both the bedding and the mattress should be secure with no cracks, crevices or ways for a baby’s limbs to get stuck. Extra body padding means that you might not feel your little one underneath you if you roll over onto him or her. Bringing baby onto a sleep surface when co-sleeping is possible, whether intended or not.Room-sharing. If bedsharing, ideally, both parents should agree and feel comfortable with the decision. Professor of Biological Anthropology, Director, Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory, University of Notre Dame. The infant or child sleeps in bed with the parents as needed: in this scenario, the little one is invited to sleep with their parents when requested. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that they shouldn’t be slatted with slots where a baby’s limbs can get stuck. But Sonal says there are some conditions to this. While this is an unpleasant and uncomfortable topic, it is one that is worth thinking about before you make the choice to cosleep/bedshare with your infant. No more going back and forth between rooms, changing the batteries on the baby monitor and saying, “it’s your turn” to your partner when the child cries. The infant may be in a crib or bassinet that’s across the room or next to the parents’ sleeping surface. Co-sleeping means sleeping in close proximity to your baby, sometimes in the same bed and sometimes nearby in the same room (room-sharing). Couches are way too cushiony and plush for a baby to sleep on unsupervised. On the one hand, parents find it comforting that their infant is in the same room with them. Ideally, you move away from your baby a bit during the night, both for safety reasons, to improve your sleep and to not make your baby completely dependent on your body contact for sleeping. Babies tend to wake up in a fantastic mood, especially when the first thing they see is mom’s face. They lack the maternal bond and awareness of the baby, so bed sharing is out of the question. It may be in the same bed or just in the same room. See how to safely share a bed with your child and how it benefits the both of you. Safe infant sleep ultimately begins with a healthy gestation. Elizabeth Pantley. Co-sleeping is considered to be negative by a lot of people because in general people are very quick to hear about bad things that happen. Finally, it may be important to consider or reflect on whether you would think that you suffocated your baby if, under the most unlikely scenario, your baby died from SIDS while in your bed. UNICEF UK has developed easy to understand co-sleeping guidelines to help professionals better understand the evidence around infant sleep safety and the risk of SIDS. If you fall asleep while feeding your infant, place them on their back (and preferably on a separate sleep surface) immediately after you wake up. I nfants should be placed for sleep in a supine position (wholly on the back) for every sleep by every caregiver until the child reaches 1 year of age. New parents often express that they’re anxious when their babies are in a separate bedroom, and their only link is through a baby monitor. These cultures often have strong collectivist ideals and a more traditional, centralized family life, with several generations living together under one roof. In 1963, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) became a medical concern, and the death rate was two to three babies per 1,000 live births in most Western nations. Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room.Co-sleeping individuals sleep in sensory proximity to one another, where the individual senses the presence of others. Room sharing, but not co-sleeping in the same bed, is the safest sleeping arrangement for all babies 0–12 months. (Lullaby Trust 2019) . Our co-sleeping advice. If you do this, make sure you put your baby in their own separate sleep space beside you. For safe co-sleeping: We recommend using a bassinet that attaches safely and securely to parents’ bed, which allows both mother and baby to have their own sleeping space, while baby still enjoys sleeping close to mommy for easier feeding and comforting. If you’re going to co-sleep, only do it when you’re in bed. Often parents think it’s best to place the baby between them, but we don’t recommend this. What I do recommend is to consider all of the possible choices and to become as informed as is possible matching what you learn with what you think can work the best for you and your family. Benefits of sharing a bed with your baby don’t outweigh the risks. This method is what’s recommended by doctors because it allows mom and baby to access each other without presenting roll-over, suffocation or choking hazards. The baby sleeps in a room separate to the parents or caregiver.Bed-sharing. That way, you can instantly see them when you wake up, and you’ll be able to easily reach out to hold, touch or comfort them. Similar to a sidecar to a motorcycle, a sidecar in the bedroom means that there is a crib or bassinet that’s directly next to the parents’ mattress. Persons taking sedatives, medications or drugs, or intoxicated from alcohol or other substances, or otherwise excessively unable to arouse easily from sleep should not cosleep on the same surface with the infant. Keep pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals out of the bed until your baby is old enough to exert enough motor control to move them if they cover the face. Copyright © 2020 An important part of safe sleep is the place where your baby sleeps, his sleeping position, the kind of crib or bed, type of mattress and the home environment (i.e. Breastfeeding significantly helps to protect infants from death including deaths from SIDS/SUDI and from secondary disease and/or congenital conditions. Wah! Avoid strong-smelling hairsprays, deodorants, and perfumes that can make it difficult for them to breathe or cause coughing and choking. It may seem unlikely, but it’s still a potential threat. In other words, bed-sharing is one way of co-sleeping. Make certain your mattress is flat, firm, and smooth. In fact, you should keep your bed off limits even for cuddling for the first three months after you’ve stopped co-sleeping, says Briggs. Co-sleeping (often spelled cosleeping, and also known as bed sharing or having a family bed) is the practice of having your infant in your bed with you during sleep.Co-sleeping promotes breastfeeding and bonding, and it is safer than crib/cot sleeping when practiced correctly. You could use baby sleeping bags instead. Excessively long hair on the mother should be tied up to prevent infant entanglement around the infant's neck (yes, this has very unfortunately happened). What goes on in bed is what matters. By having your newborn in the same room as you while you sleep, you’ll be able to respond instantly to any emergencies, and your little one will probably appreciate having mom and dad nearby. Some of the links included are directly geared toward co-sleeping. But it’s not a healthy practice: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against bed-sharing because it increases a baby’s risk for SIDS. 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