The image of a baby and parent dozing off together isn't an
uncommon one. But the practice of cosleeping, or sharing a bed with
your infant, is controversial in the United States. Supporters of
cosleeping believe that a parent's bed is just where an infant
belongs. But is it safe?
Why Do Some People Choose to Cosleep?
Cosleeping supporters believe - and some studies support their
beliefs - that cosleeping:
- encourages
breastfeeding
by making nighttime breastfeeding more convenient
- makes it easier for a nursing mother to get her sleep cycle
in sync with her baby's
- helps babies fall
asleep
more easily, especially during their first few months and when
they wake up in the middle of the night
- helps babies get more nighttime sleep (because they awaken
more frequently with shorter duration of feeds, which can add up
to a greater amount of sleep throughout the night)
- helps parents who are separated from their babies during the
day regain the closeness with their infant that they feel they
missed
But do the risks of cosleeping outweigh the benefits?
Is Cosleeping Safe?
Despite the possible pros, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) warns parents
not
to place their infants to sleep in adult beds, stating that the
practice puts babies at risk of suffocation and strangulation. And
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agrees.
Cosleeping is a widespread practice in many non-Western
cultures. However, differences in mattresses, bedding, and other
cultural practices may account for the lower risk in these
countries as compared with the United States.
According to the CPSC, at least 515 deaths were linked to
infants and toddlers under 2 years of age sleeping in adult beds
from January 1990 to December 1997:
- 121 of the deaths were attributed to a parent, caregiver, or
sibling rolling on top of or against a baby while sleeping
- more than 75% of the deaths involved infants younger
than 3 months old
Cosleeping advocates say it isn't inherently dangerous and
that the CPSC went too far in recommending that parents never sleep
with children under 2 years of age. According to supporters of
cosleeping, parents won't roll over onto a baby because
they're conscious of the baby's presence - even during
sleep.
Those who should not cosleep with an infant, however,
include:
- other children - particularly toddlers - because they might
not be aware of the baby's presence
- parents who are under the influence of alcohol or any drug
because that could diminish their awareness of the baby
- parents who smoke because the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
is greater
But can cosleeping
cause
SIDS? The connection between cosleeping and SIDS is unclear and
research is ongoing. Some cosleeping researchers have suggested
that it can reduce the risk of SIDS because cosleeping parents and
babies tend to wake up more often throughout the night. However,
the AAP reports that some studies suggest that, under certain
conditions, cosleeping may increase the risk of SIDS, especially
cosleeping environments involving mothers who smoke.
CPSC also reported more than 100 infant deaths between January
1999 and December 2001 attributable to hidden hazards for babies on
adult beds, including:
- suffocation when an infant gets trapped or wedged between a
mattress and headboard, wall, or other object
- suffocation resulting from a baby being face-down on a
waterbed, a regular mattress, or on soft bedding such as pillows,
blankets, or quilts
- strangulation in a bed frame that allows part of an
infant's body to pass through an area while trapping the
baby's head
In addition to the potential safety risks, sharing a bed with a
baby can sometimes prevent parents from getting a good night's
sleep. And infants who cosleep can learn to associate sleep with
being close to a parent in the parent's bed, which may become a
problem at naptime or when the infant needs to go to sleep before
the parent is ready.
Making Cosleeping as Safe as Possible
If you do choose to share your bed with your baby, make sure to
follow these precautions:
-
Always
place your baby on his or her back to sleep to reduce the risk of
SIDS.
-
Always
leave your child's head uncovered while sleeping.
- Make sure your bed's headboard and footboard don't
have openings or cutouts that could trap your baby's head.
- Make sure your mattress fits snugly in the bed frame so that
your baby won't become trapped in between the frame and the
mattress.
- Don't place a baby to sleep in an adult bed alone.
- Don't use pillows, comforters, quilts, and other soft or
plush items on the bed.
- Don't drink alcohol or use medications or drugs that may
keep you from waking and may cause you to roll over onto, and
therefore suffocate, your baby.
- Don't place your bed near draperies or blinds where your
child could be strangled by cords.
Transitioning Out of the Parent's Bed
Most medical experts say the safest place to put an infant to
sleep is in a
crib
that meets current standards and has no soft bedding. But if
you've been cosleeping with your little one and would like to
stop, talk to your doctor about making a plan for when your baby
will sleep in a crib.
Transitioning to the crib by 6 months is usually easier - for
both parents and baby - before the cosleeping habit is ingrained
and other developmental issues (such as
separation anxiety
) come into play. Eventually, though, the cosleeping routine will
likely be broken at some point, either naturally because the child
wants to or by the parents' choice.
But there are ways that you can still keep your little one close
by, just not in your bed. You could:
- Put a bassinet, play yard, or crib next to your bed. This can
help you maintain that desired closeness, which can be especially
important if you're breastfeeding. The AAP says that having
an infant sleep in a separate crib, bassinet, or play yard in the
same room as the mother reduces the risk of SIDS.
- Buy a device that looks like a bassinet or play yard minus
one side, which attaches to your bed to allow you to be next to
each other while eliminating the possibility of rolling over onto
your infant.
Of course, where your child sleeps - whether it's in your
bed or a crib - is a personal decision. As you're weighing the
pros and cons, talk to your child's doctor about the risks,
possible personal benefits, and your family's own sleeping
arrangements.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.