How to Safely Co-Sleep with Your Baby
On episode 78 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, I sat down with Tiffany Belanger, founder of Cosleepy, a safe sleep company. During our conversation, we talked about the different kinds of co-sleep. We also talked about the right conditions for a safe, co-sleeping environment.
Curious to know more about this topic??
Tune in to episode 78 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “How to Safely Cosleep and Bedshare with Your Baby with Tiffany Belanger from CoSleepy | Ep. 78” for details!
Without further ado, let’s jump in!
Why do Babies love Co-Sleeping?
Babies like co-sleeping because it allows them to be in close proximity to you. There’s a sense of safety and comfort that comes with that.
In fact, co-sleeping is the only way some babies can fall asleep for the first few months.
But here’s the deal- you GOTTA KNOW HOW TO DO IT SAFELY!!
Just like how there’s safe and unsleep crib sleeping, there’s safe and unsafe cosleeping practices!!
Ways to Co-Sleep Safely with my Baby
There are several different types of co-sleep that you can try with your baby.
Room-sharing: Your baby’s crib is across the room.
Bed-sharing: Sharing the mattress with your baby and sleeping with them
Co-side/bedside sleep: You pull the crib or bassinet right beside your bed (there’s specific bassinets for this!)
There are several factors to consider in a co-sleeping environment.
Mom & Partner:
No alcohol or drowsy medication: These things can make you tired and less alert. This puts the baby at risk of injury.
No smoking: Dangerous for the baby (lungs, etc.)
Baby:
Baby should be full-term: Premature babies are at greater risk of injury due to their small size. Don’t shoot the messenger :/
Bedside sleep is best for premature babies.
Co-sleeping with my Baby on a Mattress
If you decide to have your baby right next to you on the mattress, there are several things you need to do for safety.
The mattress should be:
Flat
Firm
Level
Clear of blankets & pillows.
Very important: The mattress should be on the floor. This reduces the risk of your baby getting injured from a fall.
Blankets:
Below your waist
Between your legs
Blankets should not be near your baby or their face. This creates a suffocation risk for your baby.
Pillows:
Behind your head
Between your legs
How Do I Handle Breastfeeding and Co-sleep?
If your baby is breastfeeding, one of the safest ways to co-sleep is the cuddle-curl position.
This position involves you & your baby being on the mattress. You’ll be on your side, and your baby’s head should be level with your chest.
This position is safest for your baby because:
They are right next to you.
There’s less risk of losing track of your baby in this position.
One very important note: It’s CRUCIAL that your baby never associates breastfeeding with a pillow.
If you use a pillow for breastfeeding, your baby may crawl up to the pillow & suffocate.
If your baby needs to feed:
Use the cuddle-curl position
Take them out of bed and find somewhere to breastfeed (like a chair)
What are the benefits of bed-sharing?
There are several benefits to bed-sharing, including:
Healthy wakings: Your baby will wake up often to breastfeed. This reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Babies get more milk
You get more sleep: Since you don’t have to get up to feed your baby, you should sleep longer and fall back asleep faster.
Your baby breastfeeds longer: With the close proximity, your baby will breastfeed for longer periods of time.
So, how is formula-feeding different?
Formula-feeding babies generally sleep longer without the frequent wakeups to feed.
Bedside sleeping is better for babies who formula-feed.
What Position Should my Baby be in for Co-Sleeping?
Your baby needs to be on their back when co-sleeping and not swaddled!
Use a sleep sack: You can use this as a safe option if your baby doesn’t want to sleep on a mattress, etc.
Sleep sacks will also allow your baby freedom of movement.
DO NOT USE SWADDLES. These can cause your baby to overheat and will restrict their movement. This can increase the risk of SIDS and prevent them from alerting you if they need something (by flailing).
Can my Baby Nap on a Mattress? (Is it Safe?)
Your baby should not sleep on the mattress alone.
Napping on the mattress poses a safety risk because your baby could roll over and fall off the bed.
Naps in a bassinet or crib are safer than a mattress.
Still, there are things you can do to make sleeping on a mattress safer for your baby:
Use a bed-rail: You can use a bed-rail to prevent your baby from rolling off.
Partner should be behind you: This will keep the bed surface flat and prevent indentations that your baby could slide into.
Crib mattress: Putting your baby’s crib mattress beside/below your bed will decrease risk of injury because they fall into a firm surface.
To prevent your baby from being harmed:
NEVER leave your baby alone on a mattress (even with a bed-rail)
Bed-rails can pose a safety risk if you leave your baby alone because mesh can restrict their breathing.
Should my Baby Sleep in my bed?
Whether or not you decide to co-sleep with your newborn will most likely depend on how they sleep best.
As long as you’re informed on how to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby, there can be many benefits to co-sleeping. This is especially true for breastfeeding babies.
Want to know more about safe co-sleeping?
Don’t forget to listen to episode 78 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “How to Safely Cosleep and Bedshare with Your Baby with Tiffany Belanger from CoSleepy | Ep. 78” for details!
