Is Co-Sleeping With a Newborn Safe? - Co-sleeping is something that has been talked about for a long time, but the truth is that safe co-sleeping can make the first few months of life easier for you and your baby.
It will give you more flexibility and allow you to rest when your baby rests. The safe way to co-sleep with your baby is to room share — where your baby sleeps in your bedroom, in her own crib, in her co-sleeping bassinet, or playard.
In fact, the AAP recommends room-sharing with your baby until she's at least six months old and possibly until her first birthday.
Why is Co-sleeping Dangerous?
Unfortunately, too many parents don't take the steps needed to safely co-sleep. So what is it that makes co-sleeping dangerous?
Here are some of the most common things to look for: Co-sleeping positions Many parents don't know that infants should never be placed on their backs in the middle of the bed.
According to the article posted on daily mail, there are 133 infants die every year.
Co-sleeping' has been revealed to kill 133 every year – almost three every week – in cases of suffocation, over-heating, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)………….The chance of sudden death goes up when bed-sharing if a parent smokes, has drunk alcohol or taken drugs or is very tired.'
The safest position is on their sides, next to you, with the head at least an inch or two away. This is the same position where all hospital babies are placed before going into the mother's care.
The same goes for placing the infant on their stomachs, the "back" position. Some parents try this method because it's familiar to them or thinks it's more comfortable.
As per the conversation with Dr. James J. McKenna ( is a professor of anthropology and the director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame) on huffspot, he said'
Type of Co-Sleeping With Infants:-
You can use either co-sleep with your baby on your bed or have your baby sleep in a bassinet next to your bed. When babies are newborns, room-sharing is safer and much easier than placing them in a bassinet.
With room-sharing, you can take care of your baby while she sleeps without having to get up every time she needs to eat or needs a diaper change.
Although there have been deaths associated with co-sleeping, most of these are not in homes where the baby is co-sleeping with the parent on the bed.
If you co-sleep, it is important to make sure that your baby sleeps on their back. Babies should not sleep on their stomachs or side. When placing your infant in a crib next to your bed, be sure to leave at least three feet of space between your baby's crib and your bed.
Safe Way to Co-sleep With a Newborn?
The safe way to co-sleep with your baby is to put your baby on their back on a firm sleep surface, such as a crib or mattress that's raised off the bed. Don't use soft bedding — this can constrict your baby's breathing or cause them to choke.
You can also sleep on a reclining couch or a lower bed with a soft surface underneath it, such as an air mattress, futon, or mattress on the floor.
Who should not co-sleep with a newborn? Co-sleeping is not recommended for mothers who are afraid of falling asleep, such as having a disability or sleep disorders or being pregnant or breastfeeding.
What about pets? Animals can be a safe sleep companion for a new baby, but they should be kept away from a newborn until it's not a danger to the baby.
Why you should room-share with your baby.
Co-sleeping provides two important benefits: more sleep for you more sleep for your baby. The best way to set up your sleeping space is to pick a location where your baby can feel safe and sound.
The co-sleeping position that the AAP recommends (on the back) is the safest way to co-sleep safely. And if your baby is on the back, it can be easy to find her when you're in the middle of the night or when she wakes up to eat.
The AAP does not recommend sleeping in a bed with your baby. It's easy to see why: SIDS is the number one cause of infant death, and adult bed-sharing has been linked to many other health problems.
How to Room-share with your baby safely?
There are a few things you need to consider before you decide to sleep with your baby. Protecting your baby: When co-sleeping, you and your baby should always be protected by a safety-approved sleep surface or crib.
Baby-safe safety features include:
- Side protection straps.
- Window bars.
- Soft, smooth sides.
- Anchor points that cannot be reached from the crib.
- Mattress top covers.
- Metal cribs with a rated safety rating of 2 or more.
When co-sleeping, you and your baby should always be protected by a safety-approved sleep surface or crib.
Have a look at this video, How to safely co-sleep by James Mckenna.
While you may never feel 100% ready to give up your infant's crib, making a safe space for co-sleeping can give you more freedom in the long run. To make the change, though, you first need to understand the risks associated with the idea.
Your best bet is to consult your pediatrician, whose opinion is highly trusted. If your doctor recommends that you keep your baby in the crib, it's a safe and healthy place to be, and your baby will be just fine.
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