Advice For Co-Sleeping With Your Baby

 We are not a co-sleeping family, so a friend of mine wrote this great article about her advice and ideas about co-sleeping with your baby.

Advice for Co-Sleeping with your Baby

 

What the experts say about co-sleeping with baby,

and how you can do it right

Many people will tell you that co-sleeping with babies is dangerous and a bad idea, but others will say it's a great thing for the parents and the baby. It really depends on who you talk to and what advice you follow. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics says not to co-sleep, but other health organizations say it's a great bonding experience and good for the child and particularly good for breastfeeding moms. Studies have even shown that babies who co-sleep have a reduced risk of SIDS. So, if you are considering co-sleeping, the best way to keep baby safe is to do it the right way.

 Co-Sleeping Success Tips

  • Make sure both parents want to co-sleep - Both parents need to be on board to make co-sleeping work. If they are not, there could be major problems and could cause tension between the partners.
  • Don't co-sleep anywhere but a firm surface - Don't co-sleep with baby in a chair or on the counch. Babies need firm surfaces to sleep on and soft surfaces can make it easy for them to be suffocated.
  • Avoid heavy blankets and stuffed animals in the bed - This applies to a crib, so it definietly applies to a family bed. These things can be hazardous for a baby and may even choke them.
  • Don't co-sleep with older kids and a baby - Infants and older children should not sleep in the same bed. Children are not as careful or aware of their surroundings and could accidentally suffocate or harm an infant if they share a bed. Plus, older kids need more space and items in the bed than you should put in the bed with baby.
  • Pull back hair - If you have long hair, pull it up so it doesn't suffocate baby.
  • Don't drink or use illegal substances while co-sleeping - Recent studies have found a link between co-sleeping tragedies and parental use of alcohol or drugs right before the tragedy occurred. These things can dull your senses and make it hard for you to be aware of when your child needs you.
  • Use a co-sleeper - Co-sleeping includes side-car set ups where you place baby in a sleeper that attaches to or sits next to your bed. If you want baby in your bed, use a co-sleeper that raises baby up a bit off the bed so he or she is sleeping next to you, but still has a protected space. These are particularly important for parents that are heavy sleepers.

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Baby, Family/Everyday LifeAdeline3 Comments