Pros of a Shared Bed with Your Baby

Although we highly recommend having your baby sleep in a crib or a baby cot in the same room as you as it creates healthier sleeping schedules and habits, co-sleeping or sharing a bed can have some great benefits: 

• It makes breastfeeding easier: sleeping on a shared bed with your baby means not having to go to their nursery room in the middle of the night to feed your hungry baby.

• It’s easier to make them fall back asleep: your baby might wake up a few times in the middle of the night for no reason. If you’re sleeping on a shared bed, you might not even need to cuddle or feed your baby for them to go back to sleep. Sometimes all they need is to feel that their Mommy is right beside them.

• You’ll get more sleep: since sleeping on a shared bed with your baby means not having to get up multiple times throughout the night, therefore losing less time and sleep.

• Sleeping in a shared bed helps with separation anxiety: starting nursery school or not seeing Mommy and Daddy because they have to go back to work may have started giving your sweet baby major separation anxiety. Sleeping in a shared bed with them could help them cope with it a bit better.

Cons of a Shared Bed with Your Baby

• Bed-sharing can be dangerous: sleeping in a shared bed with a baby is one of the most common causes of infant death under 3 months. The main hazards are the pillows and stuffed toys near your sleeping baby, as well as the use of a comforter or blanket instead of a snug swaddle.

• The quality of sleep for parents could lower: the serenity that your baby will feel by sleeping near their parents could have the opposite effect on Mommy and Daddy. Newbie parents who are aware of the dangers of co-sleeping might not be able to sleep as deeply as usual.

• It can instil bad habits: your baby might start associating sleeping with being close to their parents. After a while they might not be able to sleep on their own anymore, which can be frustrating to newbie parents that are already sleep-deprived.

Due to the risks and possible hazards that bed-sharing brings, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) & U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advise against bed-sharing, but encourages room-sharing with your baby sleeping in

How to Safely Co-Sleep or Bed-Share with Your Baby

Newbie parents’ biggest concern with co-sleeping and bed-sharing is their baby’s safety. Here are some tips to keep your baby safe while sharing a bed with them:

• We recommend starting bed-sharing once your baby is at least 4 months old, or even older if you had a premature labour.

• Make sure that your baby is on their back all the time.

• If you have more than one little muffin, we recommend not having more than one baby in the bed with you when co-sleeping.

• Try not to use blankets or comforters over your baby. The best alternative is to get a warm Swaddle to wrap around your baby, but only if they can’t roll over yet! Make sure that your baby is able to move their legs freely and that the room temperature is not too hot.
  

• We recommend trying to dress your baby with as little clothing as possible, to avoid overheating and suffocation.

• Soft mattresses such as water mattresses or similar is not advisable, consider going for more sturdy and stable mattresses. 

• Couches or sofas are also a no-no: never leave your baby sleeping on a couch on their own!

• Try not to pick headboards that have cutouts or gaps that could trap your baby’s head. Otherwise, you can cover them with pillows to avoid accidents.

• We suggest checking that the mattress is well-fitted: there shouldn’t be any space between the mattress and the headboard!

• Keep your bed as uncluttered as possible! When it’s time to sleep, make sure to remove all the unnecessary things from your bed, such as stuffed animals, or extra blankets and pillows.

• We recommend against holding them on their chest or tummy while they sleep; try to also avoid having your baby sleep on your chest.

• And finally, if you’ve had a long day, or had a few drinks on a well-deserved dinner date with your partner, it is best for your baby to sleep in their own crib. They can still sleep in Mommy and Daddy’s bedroom, if you want!

Safer Alternatives to Bed-Sharing

If you’re not fully convinced on sleeping on a shared bed with your baby, but still want to sleep in the same room as them, there are a couple of safer options that you might want to consider:

• Bassinets or Cribs: having your baby sleep in a crib in the same room as you can give you that peace of mind that both you and your baby need to sleep deeply, without them cultivating bad sleeping habits. Win win!

• Bedside Sleepers: if you want to keep your baby close without risking to unknowingly hurt them in your sleep, this is the best solution for you! You’ll be able to assist them right away if they need anything, just remember to give them enough time to self soothe before picking them up!

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