Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

When discussing baby sleep habits, often co-sleeping comes up as an option to help get your baby to sleep better at night. Highly controversial, co-sleeping is when you have the baby sleep in the bed with you rather than putting her down in her own crib or cradle.

As you can probably imagine, there is a big concern that a parent might roll over at night and suffocate their baby. It does happen. This alone makes many caregivers decide that co-sleeping is not an option that they are willing to consider.

There are other things to consider that may make it inadvisable to cosleep with your baby. Because we often sleep with more blankets and pillows than would be recommended there is an increased risk of suffocation from the bedding in the bed. Mattresses may be thick or have soft top layers that allow the baby to sink into them and increase the risks. Water bed mattresses are particularly problematic as the heavier sleeper sinks into them while lighter ones will tend to roll into the depression caused by the heavier one.

While it is certainly possible to crush your baby at night, it isn’t as high a risk as you might expect. Remarkably, having a baby in fact makes you far more sensitive to your baby and often will make you more likely to awaken at the slightest movement or sound. For example, my husband, who is a deep sleeper and snore terribly, will roll over at the lightest touch when we have a young baby. The rest of the time it takes a solid kick to get him to budge…

There are some benefits to co-sleeping. Crib death is often considered to happen because the baby falls into too deep a sleep and her normal reflex to breath is suppressed by that deep sleep. When sleeping with a parent the baby is more likely to waken through the night, then return to sleep. This keeps her from entering that dangerous level of deep sleep where breathing may be hampered. Another interesting thing to consider is that your baby will naturally tend to adjust her breathing to yours when held close while sleeping.

So, the decision on whether to cosleep or not can be a very difficult one. Crib death is a very real fear for many parents and most will do what they can to avoid it. Sleeping with a parent may reduce some risk factors, but it also increases others.

Another thing to consider is that when co-sleeping you may not sleep as soundly and may awaken less well rested in the morning. With the baby by your side you will likely awaken several times a night to check on your baby and make sure that she is ok. On the other hand, if you are breastfeeding, co-sleeping greatly reduces the effort of feeding your baby and allows you both to fall back to sleep immediately after the baby is done eating.

There are various options to consider that make a good compromise between co-sleeping and having separate beds. Some companies produce special co-sleeper beds. These mini beds can be placed on your bed so the baby can sleep with you, yet be protected from roll-overs by the solid plastic guards that protect the baby’s upper body. Another option is to use the bumpers that are designed for positioning your baby while sleeping. These bumpers widen the area beside your baby so that you will run into them before touching your sleeping child.

Some cribs and bassinets are specially designed to be pulled up against the bed. With the side down you can have your baby in arm’s reach without the risk of you rolling over onto them. Because your bedding is on your bed and the crib has its own bedding, you don’t have the risk of suffocating your baby with the extra blankets or comforters you like to sleep with. Make sure the height of the crib or bassinet is the same as your bed so that the baby won’t roll down into your bed and you are not hanging your arm into the crib.

If you do choose to cosleep, keep in mind that there are many things that increase the risk of rollovers and other accidents while sleeping. Do not take any drugs or medications that increase your drowsiness. You might sleep too soundly and not know when you roll over. Alcohol is a prime cause of rollover deaths. It depresses your system and makes you sleep far more deeply than usual. While the odd drink won’t hurt, it is a good idea to make separate sleep arrangements if you have had more than one drink in the evening.

While some parents love co-sleeping, others are more comfortable with separate beds. Whichever choice you make, be sure to make the arrangements as safe as possible for both you and your baby. Consult with your doctor and with other parents to help you make the decision that is right for you.