It’s a hot button issue: to co-sleep or not to co-sleep. We’re not picking sides, but we will provide you with pros, cons, and tips for you and your family.
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To co-sleep or not to co-sleep: that is the question. I’ll be honest, sometimes it doesn’t even feel like an option. We need to sleep, our baby seems to need us to fall asleep, and the only way any of this is happening is to sleep together. Anyone who says they haven’t been faced with this situation is probably bluffing- or superhuman.
Before we dive in, let’s clear up a few terms:
- Co-sleeping: A catch-all term for when a baby or toddler shares a sleeping area with an adult.
- Bed-sharing: When a child shares a bed with their parent or caretaker for most of the night.
- Room-sharing: When a baby shares a sleeping space with their parent or caregiver, but not the same bed or couch.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing, but strongly discourages bed-sharing. They warn about the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and/or suffocation. (Source) Additionally, their is a 67 times higher risk of sleep-related death when you co-sleep with a baby on a couch, cushion, or sofa.
Co-Sleeping With Baby
That said, the AAP and other sleep organizations acknowledge the widespread practice of co-sleeping. If you do decide to co-sleep, please follow these guidelines
- Remove decorated or slated headboards
- Get rid of adult bedding such as pillows, blanket, and comforters
- Do not allow other children or pets in the bed
- Don’t leave baby alone in the adult bed
For much of human history, parents and children have co-slept. Whether to comfort or protect, bed-sharing was the norm. In the 1960s, things began to shift with the medical identification of SIDS. Dr. Spock also recommended babies sleep alone.
Whatever your family decides to do, please adhere to these warnings. Never share a bed if:
- you or someone in the bed has recently drank alcohol
- you have taken drugs that make you feel sleepy
- someone in the bed smokes or your baby was exposed to smoke during pregnancy
- your baby was born prematurely
The best decisions for your family can only be made by you and your healthcare providers. Take into account medical research, your own intuition, and the safety needs of your child. For more information, check out the links below.
Sources:
- HealthyChildren.org. “How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained.”  [Online] Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx?_gl=1*pa4b8m*_ga*NjQ2NjM4MDQxLjE3MjE2OTI3NjU.*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*MTcyMTY5Mjc2NC4xLjEuMTcyMTY5Mjc4OS4wLjAuMA.. Â
- The Lullaby Trust. “Co-sleeping with Your Baby.”  [Online] Available at: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/#Â
The Pregnancy & Parenting Care Center is the place for families to receive the support and resources necessary to make life affirming decisions and build stronger families. For more information, please visit https://thepregnancyandparentingcenter.com/services/.
Audrey Mattevi, Reporting