Guide To Sleeping With Your Baby

Many parents decide to use this method and sleep with their baby. However, it is important to know  what experts recommend taking into account. That way, you can sleep safely with your baby without posing any health risk.

There is a constant controversy between whether it is healthy to sleep with her baby or not. On the one hand,  it is true that it strengthens the emotional bond. Furthermore, it makes breastfeeding much easier.

On the other hand,  there are many people who suspect that it may be related to sudden unexpected infant death. Therefore, experts have decided to sit down, to discuss the topic, regardless of whether it is recommended or not.

Slept safely together

The Breastfeeding Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatricians (SAP) and the Working Group on Sudden Unexpected Deaths provide us with a number of guidelines we should take into account. They will help you practice safe co-sleeping.

We will explain them to you here:

• The surface on which your baby sleeps should be firm.
• You should not have pillows, blankets or stuffed animals around him. That way, you can avoid possible suffocation.
• You should always lie your baby on his back. Never place him on his stomach or side.
• Never lay your baby on a pillow or a waterbed.
• You need to make sure that the mattress is fixed. There should be no place the baby can fall into or suffocate. The same is true if you have a small side bed for your baby next to your own.
• The baby should never sleep in an armchair. There are way too many places where the baby can fall down and get stuck.
• Do not sleep with your baby in your arms as he may fall down. 
• Do not place anything on your baby’s head. It may prevent him from breathing.
• You need to make sure that the temperature in the room is not too hot. Also, make sure that your baby does not feel too hot in his clothes.

More recommendations

• During the first few weeks, the baby should sleep in a side bed or between the wall and the mother. Fathers take longer to get used to their baby’s presence, and they can push the baby with a sudden movement. After some time, fathers tend to become more sensitive. Next, the baby can sleep between the parents.
• Smoking during and after pregnancy increases the risk of sudden unexpected infant death. In this case, we are not just talking about the mother. If any of the parents smoke, they should not sleep in the same bed as the baby. The smoker can sleep in another room.
• Likewise, the use of drugs, alcohol or sleeping pills is not a good idea. It reduces your ability to respond.
• Experts do not recommend that co-sleeping occurs with obese people. They create a deeper bulge in the mattress, which is dangerous for the baby.
• Experts do not recommend that the baby share a child with siblings when they are under 1 year old. They are not used to the baby’s movements or presence in general.

Ways you can sleep with your baby

When we talk about co-sleeping, the first thing that comes to mind is a big bed that everyone sleeps in together. While it is true that it is common, there are other alternatives.

You can also find side beds in the market. One side of the bed is removed so that it can be put together with the side of another bed. That way, it provides a little more space and keeps the baby closer while there is room, just for him or her.

There are even people who point out that co-sleeping with a bed next to the primary bed is a good option. As the baby grows, they can use an extra mattress next to their parents. 

It is crucial to reach consensus as a family. Do what you are comfortable with and make sure you keep your baby safe. 

The first few months can be difficult, especially for the mother. Therefore, if you decide to sleep with your baby, keep these tips in mind. That way, you can sleep safely with your baby.