Is It Safe for Babies to Sleep With You?

Author: Kat Goodman

The question of how safe it is for your baby to sleep in your bed with you has been debated for years. Those who are for having the baby in the bed claim it's not only safe, but offers psychological benefits to both the baby and parents. The other side points out that having your baby sleep with you is dangerous. Instead of picking one side of the argument, perhaps it is best to make it safer for your baby in your bed, if this is what you have chosen to do. The biggest fears when sleeping with a baby are crushing the baby, or suffocating her. A few precautions can decrease this risk greatly.

One simple solution is to get a bigger bed, preferably a queen or king sized so there is plenty of room. It is safe for babies to sleep in bed with you but, there are some things to watch out for. Avoid having the child sleep between you and your partner, put her on the side, with a barrier of some kind to prevent falling off. In most instances, it can be safe for your baby to sleep with you. It also has it's benefits. If breastfeeding, it makes it easier to feed your baby. You don't have to disrupt your partner, you can simply let her nurse while you stay semi-asleep.

Another option that provides all the benefits of your baby sleeping with you is to use a sleeping basket. Set the basket next to the bed. This makes it simple to hold your baby until she falls off to sleep. Then transfer her to the basket. When the baby wakes up during the night, you can stay in bed and take care of her needs. If your baby has health problems, it may be a good idea to have her sleep with you, or at the very least by you. The chances of a problem are much slimmer if you are within ear shot and arms reach.

There are times that it is not safe for your baby to sleep in your bed. If you are ill, you can easily infect your baby. Consuming alcohol or sedatives also makes it unsafe for your baby. Illness or alcohol makes your senses "dull", and this will make it more difficult to recognize a problem.

When deciding if it's safe for babies to sleep with their parents, common sense should dictate your decision. If your baby regularly sleeps with you, and your bedtime routine becomes altered due to exhaustion, stress, illness, etc., these can effect the safety of your baby. If you feel that you are not as alert as you should be, don't risk it, use the crib.

Kat Goodman has been providing Just Baby Nursery Bedding (www.just-baby-nursery-bedding.com) with quality articles for the past year. For more information on, "is it safe for babies to sleep with their parents" please visit this link. 

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