Co-sleeping safety: Everything you need to know to protect your baby

As a new parent, you have to make a lot of decisions for your child. One of the most important decisions is where they will sleep.

Co-sleeping is when a parent and child sleep in close social or physical contact of each other, meaning that one can tell that the other is nearby. There are two types of co-sleeping: bed-sharing and room-sharing. They are often used interchangeably, but are very different.

• Bed-sharing vs Room-sharing
• Benefits of Room-sharing
• Dos and Don’ts of Room-sharing

Bed-sharing vs Room-sharing

Bed-sharing is when the parent and child sleep together on the same surface, such as an adult bed. This practice is not advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), due to the risks of child suffocation in an adult bed.

Room-sharing is when parents have a crib in the room with them, a bedside sleeper attached to the side of the parental bed, or a bassinet, portable crib or play yard near the bed. The AAP recommends this practice for infants up to at least six months of age in order to be able to monitor and comfort your baby from a close, safe distance.

Benefits of Room-sharing

There are certain advantages to room-sharing. For mothers, it makes the act of breastfeeding easier. For your baby, room-sharing often reduces nighttime separation anxiety and improves health through more regular heartbeats and breathing. Additionally, the AAP reports that the room-sharing environment lowers the risk of SIDS by up to 50 percent.

There are disadvantages to room-sharing as well. Parents often will get less sleep in this scenario, because they awaken to every cry the baby makes. Parents often become less strict with sleep times, leading to less rest for the baby as well. There is no one-size-fits-all answer on room-sharing, but there are guidelines on how to ensure a safe sleeping environment for your baby no matter the location.

Dos and don’ts of room-sharing

You ultimately must decide what’s best for your family, but if you choose to engage in room-sharing do so with these guidelines in mind.

DO

• Place your baby on his or her back to sleep.
• Dress your child in light clothing to avoid overheating.
• Make sure you have a firm mattress for your baby.
• Remove pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and other possible suffocation hazards.
• Childproof your bedroom to avoid accidents.
• Ensure the crib or bassinet is away from long curtains, outlets and windows.

DON’T

• Drink alcohol, smoke or use drugs, all of which can impair your cognitive thinking skills.
• Engage in bed-sharing with your infant.
• Cover your child's head with a sheet or blanket.
• Let your infant sleep on couches, sofas or recliners.
• Let your child sleep alone or leave him or her unattended in an adult bed.
• Allow pets on the bed with your children.
• Place the crib near hazardous features, including electrical outlets, window blinds, lamps and sharp objects.

The choice to co-sleep is a decision that must be agreed upon by both parents. For additional information on safe sleep for your baby, visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.