If you decide that cosleeping (sharing your bed) is the right sleep situation for you and your new baby, please keep these very important safety considerations in mind:
Keep blankets (particularly heavy ones), quilts, comforters and pillows away from your baby to avoid possible suffocation. Also, make certain stuffed animals are nowhere near your baby's face. All bedding (such as sheets) should be fitted properly and securely to the mattress. If you're worried about your baby staying warm, use blanket sleepers.
Keep curtains, blinds and all drapery away from your bed to avoid possible strangulation by hanging cords. Read more below:
Do not leave your baby alone on an adult bed, even if he or she is fast asleep.
If you or your partner are significantly overweight, you may want to consider a special 3-sided cosleeper for the side of your bed to keep your baby from being rolled-on.
Place your baby on his or her back to sleep. Tummy sleeping can lead to SIDS.
Do not cosleep with your baby on a waterbed, pillowtop mattress, sofa, recliner, beanbag chair or any other soft surface. A firm, smooth mattress is best.
Do not cosleep with your baby if you are extremely sleep-deprived, a very sound sleeper or if you are under the influence of any medications that make you sleepy whether they are prescription or over-the-counter.
Impairment by drugs or alcohol will diminish your awareness of your baby, making you drowsy and much harder to wake. Do not cosleep if this is the case. Of course, it would be best if heavy drinkers and drug addicts avoided parenthood completely.
Do not cosleep with your baby if you use tobacco. Secondhand smoke increases the SIDS rate.
Overdressing your baby should be avoided. Your body heat will probably keep your baby warm enough. Overheating can potentially lead to SIDS.
Make sure there's no way for your baby to fall out of bed. Mesh guardrails are an option, but make sure they are safe to use for babies. A mattress on the floor is even better. Special 3-sided cosleepers eliminate the possibility of falls. They resemble playpens, but are the same height as most adult beds. This way your baby is basically in bed with you (well very nearby), but cannot fall out.
Never allow pets to sleep in bed with you and your baby, no matter how much they are part of your family.
Push your bed flush against the wall, headboard and footboard to keep your baby's head or body from becoming trapped. There shouldn't be any space between your bed and the wall or headboard. Also, don't let your baby sleep in a bed with a fancy headboard that has openings which could be dangerous.
If you are cosleeping with your baby, don't allow older children (especially toddlers) to sleep in the bed with your baby. Children may not be aware of the baby's presence and may roll on him or her.
When your baby is old enough to crawl off the bed, be sure your room is completely childproof, as he or she may just try exploring while you sleep one night!
If you take safety very seriously, cosleeping can have many benefits for your baby as well as you and your partner. If you are unwilling to do it safely and use common sense, a bassinet or crib is a much safer place for your baby to sleep.
