Sleeping with Your Baby (Co-Sleeping)

The idea of having your baby sleep beside you in your bed (called “co-sleeping”) may be warm and comforting. But is it safe?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warn that infants should not co-sleep with their parents.

CO-SLEEPING: RISKS
Risk of suffocating: During co-sleeping, a baby can be hurt by:

• Getting trapped by the bed frame, headboard or footboard
• Getting trapped between the bed and the wall, furniture or other object
• Falling from the bed onto piles of clothing, plastic bags or other soft materials
• Suffocating on a waterbed, mattress or soft bedding (pillows, blankets, quilts, etc.)
• Having a parent (especially a parent who has used alcohol or drugs) roll on top of the baby

Co-sleeping and SIDS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)  is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year old. About half of SIDS deaths occur when the baby is sharing a bed, sofa or sofa chair with another person. 

Other potential problems: Co-sleeping may keep parents from getting a good night's sleep. A baby who co-sleeps may have trouble falling asleep:

• When she is alone at naptime
• When she needs to go to sleep before her parent is ready

SAFER CO-SLEEPING: DOs and DON’Ts
If you do decide to share your bed with a baby under 12 months old, here are some DOs and DON'Ts.

DOs:

• Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep. Babies who sleep on their backs have less risk of SIDS than babies who sleep on their tummies or sides.
• Always leave your child's head uncovered while sleeping.
• Be sure there are no openings in the bed's headboard or footboard where your baby's head could get trapped.
• Remove cords and drapes from nearby windows.
• Remove any strings or ties from your and the baby’s pajamas.
• Remove soft bedding.
• Place a tight-fitting fitted sheet on the mattress.
• Make sure that there are no spaces between the bed and the wall or furniture.
• Make sure your mattress fits snugly in the bed frame.
• Make sure there is nothing near the bed that could suffocate or strangle the baby.

DON’Ts

• Never put a baby to sleep in an adult bed alone.
• Never place your baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress or other very soft surface.
• Never place pillows, comforters, quilts or other soft/plush items on top of or under your baby.
• Never sleep with your baby if you smoke, have been drinking, or have used medicines or drugs that make it hard for you to wake up.
• Never overdress your baby for sleep or overheat the room.

October 2009