Co-sleeping

Co-sleeping can involve having your baby in bed with you, which is often the automatic assumption when someone says they co-sleep with their baby. Although it can also be where you have your baby in a bassinet next to your bed (generally attached to the bed) rather than directly in your bed and can even include having the baby in the room with you.

The concept of co-sleeping is that there is a sensory proximity to one another.

The latter is considered safer practise than having the child sleep in the bed with you.

Sleeping with a child in your bed increases the risk of SIDS whereas having your child in your room nearby you for the first 12 months is actually recommended and can reduce the incidence of SIDS.

The pros:

• Bonding.
• A child’s enforced independence is unnecessary at this age as they are not ‘designed’ to be.
• A major benefit is you all get a relatively good night sleep and they will develop similar sleep patterns.

The cons:

• Predominately the main cons are the safety issues.
• It is believed that sharing a bed increases the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents.
• It is recommended that a safe sleep environment is next to the parent’s bed for the first 6-12 months.
• The bigger/older your child becomes the less room in the bed and the more chance of a hit or kick in the night.
• If you want to change from them sharing your bed it is NOT recommend doing controlled crying in this instance but rather have them calm and asleep on you and place them into bed until they are used to having their own bed. It is a good idea to ‘wean’ them by placing the bed in your room but separate to the usual bed as a stepping stone.

General Do’s:

1. Put your baby on their back to sleep.
2. Use a baby sleeping bag or similar, so not to smother them in your bed clothes

General Dont’s:

1. Place baby in the middle of you and your partner, but ensure they will not fall off or get caught between bed and the wall.
2. Place pillows around them – it poses a smother risk.
3. Co-sleep if you have a waterbed or very soft mattress.
4. Co-sleep if you or your partner smoke, have been drinking or taking drugs, if other children are in the bed or pets share the bed.