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Parents who wish to sleep in the same bed with their babies should strictly follow safety recommendations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) both strongly advice against the practice of co-sleeping with babies under the age of two. Still, that has not deterred advocates of co-sleeping to continue sharing their beds with their much-loved little ones. Parents who prefer the same bed arrangement should take extra care, though. And until they decide to end bed sharing, here are some safety measures to follow. Safe BedNaturally, the bed has to be large enough to accommodate mum, dad and baby. A king size mattress placed on the floor would be ideal. Make sure there are no gaps that can trap the baby. Use a flat and firm mattress and avoid air beds, water beds and sofa beds at all costs, as these may smother the baby. If using a bed frame for the mattress, install guardrails to prevent the baby from rolling off the bed. Check that the gaps in between the rails won’t get the baby stuck. Also, ensure that the baby can't get trapped between the mattress and the framework of the bed (headboard or footboard), a wall or other furniture. Other Bedding ConcernsUse a fitted bed sheet and make sure it doesn’t come loose. Avoid too many pillows, sheepskins, quilts, comforters or blankets as these may suffocate the baby. In fact, bedding items should not be used at all for new born babies. Instead, they should be dressed warmly. Add an extra layer of clothing or use a fleecy-lined sleepsack to preserve warmth on cold nights. Pillows and blankets can be added on as the baby grows older. But be sure not to put too many layers or blankets to avoid over-heating the baby. Where Baby SleepsSome parents like to put the baby in between them while asleep so that both partners can enjoy the company and take turns feeding or soothing the baby more conveniently. However, Elizabeth Pantley, parent educator and author of The No-cry Sleep Solution [McGraw Hill, 2002], says the baby should actually be put between mum and the wall or guardrails. “Fathers, siblings, grandparents and babysitters don’t have the same instinctual awareness of a baby’s location as mothers do,” she reasons. In other words, most mums will quickly awaken at the slightest noise or movement made by the baby. If, however, mum is a very sound sleeper and can only wake up after the baby cries loudly for a long time, she should stop sharing the bed with the baby. A crib next to the bed is a much better option. No Smoking, Drinking and DrugsStudies that assessed the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) related to bed sharing has shown an increased risk for SIDS if the parents smoke and drink excessively. Parents who are sick and on medication should also avoid co-sleeping. A mother with a bad infection may spread the virus to her baby. She is also often tired and the medicines consumed may put her into a deep slumber, making it difficult for her to wake up in the night if the baby cries. Size and Weight IssuesBed sharing definitely becomes more dangerous for the baby if one or both of her parents are large and overweight. If the baby rolls towards mum or if mum’s weight leaves a big impression in the mattress when both are on the mattress, the chances of the baby being crushed and smothered are very high. Sharing an adult bed with a baby isn’t highly recommended by many baby experts. But if parents truly believe its benefits outweigh its disadvantages, they should play it safe. Choosing the right mattress and bedding; putting the baby at the right spot as well as avoiding alcohol, tobacco and drugs are just some of the ways to ensure bed sharing safety.
The copyright of the article Bed Sharing Safety Tips in Infant & Toddler Health is owned by Wei Yin Wong. Permission to republish Bed Sharing Safety Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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