Co-Sleeping With Your Baby - Some Safety Tips To Remember
Co-sleeping with your baby is one of the most natural things in the world for a parent, and it is a practice that is continued throughout the world.
Not only can you give your baby immediate comfort during the night, but many parents find it is easier to get their baby off to sleep and that feedings, especially breast feedings, are not as disturbed as with a baby that sleeps in a cot.
There are also indications that co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS (cot death) as the parents are more alert to the baby during the night.
But there are other schools of thought that question the safety aspects of a child sleeping with it's parents; the baby runs a risk of being suffocated or laid upon, or even hanging itself from the headboard.
Babies are incredibly delicate and if you are considering co-sleeping with your child there are some safety tips that you must consider.
However it also can put a strain on a partnership if your baby invades the marital bed.
Also remember they can disturb your sleep with constant movement and noise.
If you are considering co-sleeping I would suggest that you look into the pro's and con's very carefully to discover if it is the right option for you.
Not only can you give your baby immediate comfort during the night, but many parents find it is easier to get their baby off to sleep and that feedings, especially breast feedings, are not as disturbed as with a baby that sleeps in a cot.
There are also indications that co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS (cot death) as the parents are more alert to the baby during the night.
But there are other schools of thought that question the safety aspects of a child sleeping with it's parents; the baby runs a risk of being suffocated or laid upon, or even hanging itself from the headboard.
Babies are incredibly delicate and if you are considering co-sleeping with your child there are some safety tips that you must consider.
- Replace your duvet with sheet and blankets
- Babies do not need pillows until they are over a year old
- Make sure that your mattress is close fitting to the headboard.
If there is even a small gap they can slip through it and hang themselves. - Use a bed guard or make sure the bed is close to the wall to stop your baby from rolling out of the bed.
- A newborn baby should be put to sleep on it's back; when they are older and can move by themselves they may prefer to sleep on their side.
- If you are overtired it is not safe to sleep with your baby.
- Try to get them to sleep in a cot initially; they will be less likely to rely on you being there to get to sleep.
- NEVER EVER sleep with your baby if you have had an alcoholic drink, are unwell, if you smoke or have taken drugs, even prescription medicine.
However it also can put a strain on a partnership if your baby invades the marital bed.
Also remember they can disturb your sleep with constant movement and noise.
If you are considering co-sleeping I would suggest that you look into the pro's and con's very carefully to discover if it is the right option for you.
