Home > Baby > Sleep > The Do’s and Don’ts of Co-Sleeping

The Do’s and Don’ts of Co-Sleeping

The Mum Club19 June 2023

We’ve all been there (usually at 3 am), and the only thing that will settle your baby is to fall asleep next to you.

Nearly 50% (if not more) of all families will have their baby in bed with them at some point in the first few months.

But why is co-sleeping such a taboo? And is it safe?

We spoke to Paediatric nurse and Sleep Consultant Emily @soundsleepcoach to find out the facts.

Is it Illegal to Co-Sleep with Your Baby?

There are no laws regarding co-sleeping, but there is guidance from NHS England and various charities to support safe sleep. For years the advice has been ‘never bedshare’, whereas this has recently been updated to ‘be safe if you share a bed with your baby’. This helps to take the pressure off parents. Ultimately, it may not be a parent’s choice to co-sleep, but if it is the only thing that helps to settle their baby, parents shouldn’t feel ashamed. Instead, they should be taught how to do so safely.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Co-Sleeping

– Do ensure they’re on a firm, flat mattress lying on their back
– Don’t have any pillows or duvets near them
– Don’t have any other children or pets in the bed at the same time
– Don’t share a bed with your baby if they had a low birth weight (less than 2.5kg or 5.5lb).
– Don’t share a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke, have had 2 or more units of alcohol, have taken recreational drugs or have taken medication that causes drowsiness.

Is There a Crib That Helps With Co-Sleeping?

We love Graco’s Sweet2Sleep crib because it has a dropdown rail that you can quickly operate using only one hand. Great for those middle-of-the-night moments when you’re completely exhausted. Enabling a quick and easy co-sleeping solution that helps you to keep your baby close and safe all night. Not only that, it’s lightweight and locks into place easily as it has 11 different height adjustments, so it should suit any bed frame – high or low!

What Should My Baby Wear When Co-Sleeping?

A sleeping bag would be recommended as you do not want any pillows or duvets near the baby to protect them from SIDS. As the baby would not have their ‘feet to foot of the cot,’ then there is a higher chance that they could slide down the bed when co-sleeping, so ensure there are no loose blankets nearby.

Can You Co-Sleep With Twins? If So, How?

You may decide to co-bed your twins in the early weeks and months. This simply means that your babies are put into a cot together. The same safe sleeping guidance should be followed for this: putting your babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm flat surface, and keeping them smoke-free. Key safety points for co-bedding include:

• Only place them side by side in their cot in the first few weeks when they can’t roll over or onto each other. Ensure they are not too close, so they don’t obstruct each other’s airways and breathing.
• Once your babies have learnt to roll, it would be safer to put them in their own sleep space.
• Avoid putting them both in one Moses basket, as this would be too small and may cause them to overheat.

If you want to co-sleep with your twins in your bed, this can be riskier. It is important to note that twins are often born prematurely and have a low birth weight. As mentioned previously, this makes co-sleeping a higher risk for SIDS. If they are a vulnerable infant, they should sleep in their own sleep space.

www.soundasleepcoaching.co.uk

Visit Graco Villiage