Co-sleeping vs bed-sharing
Most parents will learn from their pediatrician only about traditional co-sleeping; they’re told that bed-sharing is very unsafe and never plan to do it. But, many parents will end up bedsharing, at least sometimes. So, it’s important to learn the safest way to sleep with your baby.
what is co-sleeping?
Cosleeping is an infant sleeping on a separate surface in the same room as his or her parents. This can be a bassinet or sidecar crib. Cosleeping (aka room-sharing) is recommended by the AAP for at least the first six months to a year.
what is bedsharing?
Bedsharing is an infant sleeping on the same surface as a parent, ideally a firm mattress set up according to the Safe Sleep Seven. Research on bedsharing finds that a bed that is safely set up can be as safe as a crib. Bedsharing can promote breastfeeding, which lowers the risk of SIDS.
To bedshare safely, the baby should be close to the mother, in light clothes (not swaddled.)
who should not bed-share?
While research shows that bedsharing can be safe, there are circumstances that make it unsafe.
Not safe for preemies or babies with low birth weight
Not safe if other siblings are in the bed
Not safe if birth parent smokes or smoked during pregnancy
Not safe if parents are under the influence of alcohol or other substances
disclaimer:
I am not a doctor, so you shouldn’t mistake this as medical advice. My goal is to inform parents about how to approach alternatives because it’s common for parents to bedshare on accident. There isn’t one right way for a baby to sleep. If you are interested in learning more about safe bed sleeping, please read Safe Infant Sleep by James McKenna.
