Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 5: Weighing the risks
• Part 2 of 5: Considering the benefits
• Part 3 of 5: Knowing when not to sleep with your baby
• Part 4 of 5: Preparing the room
• Part 5 of 5: Safe sleep
• Warnings

Co-sleeping with a newborn is a controversial topic, and experts and parents both have good arguments for and against. If you choose to share your bed with your baby, make sure you are fully informed about the safest method of doing this. Co-sleeping can mean sharing your bed with your baby as well as sharing your bedroom with the baby in a crib or cot. The latter is recommended by most experts. This article focuses on co-sleeping in one bed with your baby.

To step

Part 1 of 5: Weighing the risks

1. Know that co-sleeping with your baby is not recommended by most experts. There are many studies showing that co-sleeping increases the risk of injury, suffocation, SIDS, and death from other causes. It is important to know that there is no foolproof way to prevent these risks, even if you optimize the sleeping situation so that it is as safe as possible.
   • Most pediatricians prefer sharing the bedroom over sharing the bed.
2. Talk to your pediatrician to learn more about the pros and cons of co-sleeping. Most pediatricians have strong opinions about co-sleeping with a newborn. Some doctors strongly believe in the benefits of co-sleeping between parents and babies, and so will recommend this use. Others may not share your enthusiasm and will advise against it.
   • Regardless of personal opinion, ask your doctor about the pros and cons of co-sleeping with a newborn, and other safety tips.
3. Research the topic. The internet offers a tremendous amount of information about co-sleeping, sometimes based only on suspicions or incorrect assumptions and fabrications. Look for reliable, science-based research on this topic.
   • On the Medisch Contact website you will find thorough information about whether or not to sleep with your baby.
   • Go to the library to find literature on co-sleeping with your child. Choose medical books as well as books written by parents, as they often report on personal experiences.
4. Understand that some parents do not sleep very well with a newborn in bed compared to when the baby is in its own bed. While many parents enjoy having their baby in bed and sleeping better, there are other parents who get nervous when their baby is in bed with them. The fear of hurting their baby can prevent some parents from sleeping well.
   • In addition, many parents are aware of every movement and sound that their newborn makes, and they wake up to every breath.
5. Remember that you also have to unlearn it. If you let your baby sleep with you, you will eventually have to unlearn him, and that can be difficult for your child.

Part 2 of 5: Considering the benefits

1. Know that your baby can feel comforted by the safety of a parent nearby. As a result, he will likely sleep better at night.
   • Many newborns find it difficult to regulate their sleep rhythm, and soon after delivery, many parents find that their baby is wide awake at night and deeply asleep during the day. Co-sleeping can be an effective way of teaching your baby a sleep rhythm.
2. Think about whether you will sleep longer with your baby lying with you. Both fathers and mothers can be exhausted when their baby has just been born. Having to get out every night when your baby is crying will only make things worse.
   • When your baby is in bed with you, you don't have to stumble around in the dark to get to your crying child.
3. Consider whether it is easier to feed your baby at night. Think how easy it can be if your baby can just breastfeed while you lie in bed in the middle of the night.
   • Breastfed babies sometimes drink as much as every 1.5 hours. If all you have to do is turn around and breastfeed your hungry baby, it's much easier than getting up every 2 hours to do so.
4. Think about the possible emotional benefits co-sleeping with your newborn can provide. Your baby will feel less insecure if he is lying next to you at night. Therefore, he will feel less stressed than if he has to sleep in a crib.
5. Research the long-term effects and benefits co-sleeping can have on babies. Despite being in the minority, many doctors and medical experts believe that children who have slept with their parents are more confident and have more self-esteem than children who have never slept with their parents.

Part 3 of 5: Knowing when not to sleep with your baby

1. Never sleep with your baby in a bed while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Your sleep is affected and you are less aware of your baby.
2. Do not sleep with your baby if you or someone else in your house smokes. There is a greater risk of SIDS if parents smoke.
3. Do not let other children or toddlers sleep in a bed with your baby. Children are unaware of the presence of a baby when they are sleeping. Even a toddler can suffocate a baby if he rolls over on the baby in his sleep.
4. Don't let your baby sleep alone in your bed. Babies should never sleep in a large bed without an adult. Even the smallest newborn can wriggle to the edge of the bed and fall out, or suffocate on bedding, pillows or blankets.
5. Do not sleep next to your baby if you are sleep deprived exhausted. If you lack sleep, you will not wake up quickly enough from the movements of your child.
   • Only you know how aware you are of your baby at night, and how light or deeply you sleep. If you are in doubt about your ability to be aware of your newborn, you should not co-sleep with your baby.
6. Do not sleep with your baby if you are overweight, especially if you have sleep apnea. Obesity has been linked to sleep apnea, which increases the risk of suffocating your baby if you sleep restlessly.

Part 4 of 5: Preparing the room

1. Make your bedroom safe in advance. Remember that your room will also be your newborn's bedroom, so make it safer if necessary.
   • If your bed is by the window, make sure to wash the curtains and remove dirt and dust from all over the place. If your bed is under a ceiling fan, consider hanging the fan somewhere else so your baby won't be bothered by the airflow while sleeping.
2. Prepare your bed. Before you put a baby in your bed, you need to make adjustments so that it is safe and comfortable for a small child. You will have to adjust your sleep pattern.
   • Think about the size of your bed. Is it big enough for the parents and the baby to sleep well? Trying to stuff a baby into a bed that isn't big enough can be dangerous.
   • A firm mattress is safest for the baby. Newborns are especially at high risk of SIDS, and one of the risk factors for this is a lack of air circulation. A mattress that is too soft can create a hole in which the air your baby exhales can be trapped, so that he breathes that air again instead of fresh oxygen.
   • Never let a baby sleep on a waterbed.
   • Buy suitable bedding. Your fitted sheet should be tight enough around your mattress so that it does not wrinkle. Make sure the corners are tucked in so that they cannot come loose. Also consider the quality of the fabric, as rough sheets can irritate your baby's sensitive skin.
   • Think about whether you want to remove the head or foot of your bed, as there is always a small chance that your baby will get trapped.
   • Think about the blankets you use for sleeping under. Do not use a thick duvet or other bedding that could entangle your baby or make it difficult to hear your baby's crying. It is best to put on several layers of clothing yourself, and not use a blanket at all.
3. Set up your bed properly. Again, make the necessary adjustments so that your baby's safety is paramount and the environment is adapted to him.
   • Lower your bed or consider placing your mattress on the floor. Accidents happen, and this is the easiest way to prevent your baby from getting hurt if he falls out of bed.
   • If possible, place the bed against the wall so that your baby cannot fall out. If there is a gap between the bed and the wall, roll up a blanket or towel tightly and tuck it in between.
   • Consider adding a bed rail to keep your newborn from falling out of bed. Do not use a side rail designed for larger toddlers as it can be dangerous for a small newborn.
   • Place an extra soft rug or a yoga mat next to your bed, so that your baby ends up softer if he does fall out of bed.
   • Check out the area around your bed. Make sure there are no curtains or cords that could entangle your baby. Also pay attention to electrical outlets close to your bed. Consider putting special socket protectors for children in the outlets.

Part 5 of 5: Safe sleep

1. Check again to make sure your bed is safe. Remove all loose pillows and stuffed animals from your bed. The only thing that is allowed to lie on the bed are things that are absolutely necessary for a good and safe sleep.
2. Consider placing the baby between the mother and a safe surface such as a wall or bed rail. Mothers generally appear to be more instinctively aware of their baby's presence when they are sleeping. It is safer to put the baby in this position than between the two parents.
3. Put your baby on his back when he sleeps to reduce the risk of SIDS. Since it was recommended that babies sleep on their backs, far fewer children have died of SIDS.
4. Do not cover your baby's head while sleeping. Do not put on a nightcap that could fall over the face. Also pay close attention to blankets, pillows or other things that could cover the face. Babies cannot remove obstructions on their own in order to breathe.
5. Don't dress your baby too thick. Remember that your baby will need less clothing as the body heat will be transferred from the other persons. Babies need fewer blankets to stay warm than adults.
6. Remove potentially dangerous or distracting objects from your body. In general, the less you have between you and your baby, the better. This makes feeding easier and promotes adhesion.
   • Sleep in clothing that does not have belts, bows, or strings. Necklaces or other jewelry is also dangerous, so use common sense.
   • Do not use perfumed lotion, deodorant, or hair products that can hide the mother's natural scent. Your baby will instinctively be attracted to your natural scent. In addition, these products can irritate your baby's sensitive nasal passages.

Warnings

• Talk to your doctor if you or your baby have a condition that might be a problem for you to co-sleep with your newborn safely.