Is Co-Sleeping With Your Baby Safe? Find Safety Guidelines for Parents

When you have a baby who will not sleep for up to an hour in his crib alone, most parents would naturally bring their baby into their bed with them. Although done with the purest of intentions, this action could be hazardous to your baby. A very tired mother or father could roll over on baby resulting in grave injuries. This can be avoided if the proper safety guidelines listed below are followed strictly.

Is Co-Sleeping Safe?

Co-sleeping  refers to bed-sharing, but sometimes people use the term to mean sleeping in close proximity, but on different sleep surfaces. According to UNICEF guidelines, which are based on many evidenced-based research studies and publications, co-sleeping can be a safe option in many situations. There are also situations in which co-sleeping isn’t safe. In the hopes of reducing SIDS (sudden infant death situations) and suffocation, sometimes it is discouraged, but most parents will need to find what works best for them.

It is Safe to Co-Sleep When:

• Baby is placed on mommy’s back to sleep
• A firm mattress is used
• Only biological parents in bed, baby next to mother
• A bed free of entrapment or entanglement hazards
• Completely sober parents
• Breastfeeding mother/baby pairs

It is Not Safe to Co-Sleep When:

• If you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including over-the-counter and prescription medication that cause drowsiness)
• You suffer from or are at risk for sleep apnea
• You smoked during pregnancy, are still smoking, or someone in the home smokes
• Any sleep surface or furniture item besides a firm mattress (e.g. water bed, couch, rocking chair, recliner, etc.)
• A bed frame with spaces between it and the mattress or wall where baby could become entrapped
• Plush blankets, pillows or other items near baby
• Baby was low birth weight or pre-term

Benefits of Co-Sleeping 

There are some benefits of sleeping near baby. These include:

• Positive effects on breast milk supply and duration of breastfeeding
• Infants have more stable physiology including temperature, hearth rhythm and breathing pattern
• Infants often sleep more soundly, so parents get more rest
• Sleeping within arms’ reach, same or separate surface, can reduce the risk of SIDS when safe sleep guidelines are used