Tips for safe co-sleeping

Feb 29, 2012 8:15 AM by Naomi de la Torre

Posted in Parenting / Age by Age / Baby & Toddler

The Family Bed: Not Just For Hippies

New research in the age-old debate between co-sleeping and cry-it-out demonstrates that leaving babies to cry it out is not only emotionally disruptive, but can actually damage their growing brains. When babies are left unattended to cry for long periods of time, the stress hormone cortisol builds up in their brains and becomes toxic.

Mom and baby co-sleeping

As a member of the family bed tribe, I was intrigued to discover pertinent research that actually supports co-sleeping in a culture that is primarily against it -- despite the fact that 25 percent of Americans still admit to bed-sharing with their children occasionally. I myself never intended to become a co-sleeping parent. But after my baby arrived, I realized that I wanted to be close to him at night, just as much as I wanted to be close to him during the day.

It is, in fact, a natural instinct for mothers and babies to want to be in close proximity to one another. The concept of infants sleeping away from their parents is relatively new in human history. And as long as you are following certain precautions, the family bed can actually be just as safe, or safer, than crib-sleeping. Below are some helpful tips on how to co-sleep safely.

Never sleep with your baby on a soft surface

This means no sleeping with your baby on couches, recliners or waterbeds. Do not use soft bedding or pillows. Suffocation is one of the most serious dangers to sleeping infants, whether they are sleeping in bed with their parents or even in their own cribs.

No toddlers, drinking or smoking

The best place for baby to sleep is next to a responsible, non-smoking adult, preferably his mother. You might want to invest in a co-sleeper, which has three sides and attaches to your bed. The baby has his own safe space that adjoins where his mother sleeps so she can comfortably reach and feed him all night long.

Enjoy being emotionally and physically close to your baby

One of the best advantages of sleeping with your baby is being able to respond to all his nighttime needs. Not only is this now proven to aid both your baby's emotional and physical development, but you will also be able to anticipate any nighttime illnesses or problems such as fevers, cough, vomiting or breathing difficulties.

Many studies now show that people who co-slept as children exhibit less vulnerability to depression and other psychological illnesses, as well as report higher levels of overall satisfaction with their lives. As long as you follow the suggestions above, co-sleeping can be one of the safest and most enjoyable sleep arrangements around.

More on co-sleeping

4 infant sleeping myths debunked
SheKnows message boards: co-sleeping
Transition child from the family bed

Tags: family bed

Comments

Comments on "Tips for safe co-sleeping"

How is that picture horrible? What a strange society we live in. It is a beautiful photo.

My oldest child is now 23 and pretty darn independent! I had what was called a portacrib. It was smaller and adjust to the height of the bed and the top side dropped opened. I would scoot it close to my bed raise the height inside the crib to fit, and drop the side. I would roll up a baby blanket to fit the gap between the bed and her mattress pad and that is where she slept. I could reach over and pull her to me to nurse, then push her back to her safe spot without waking her. I could sometimes leave my hand on her back while I slept and needed reassuring she was there and OK. This is how we slept until she was around 2. I did that with all of my babies, so much easier and comforting to both of us. I read about this when I was pregnant and how is common in other countries and less occurences of SIDS, so I thought it best.

I have to agree with Sara...because I was one of those confused readers! All the co-sleeping "tips" are super vague because no one wants to get sued. So what exactly was it supposed to look like? We never figured out anything comfortable that I felt safe about, so I moved her back to her crib. Maybe with my next baby?

Sara - I personally found the picture adorable. It's just photography.

Great article but TERRIBLE picture! Maybe a proper safe co-sleeping family photo would suit this article better and not confuse a reader.

Take that all of our friends who told us to ferberize!I love this article. You hit it out of the park. I hate that us co sleepers have to whisper and hang our head when admitting that we co sleep. I have found, the longer I know people, they admit to co sleeping. I personally love it.There is nothing better than waking up to your sweet baby's face.I agree it forms a deeper bond, similar to that of breastfeeding.Plus you have their rooms available to use to as your conjugalorium and to hide clean laundry heaps:)Happy Mothering!