Newborn Cosleeping in Parents Bed

How to Co Sleep With Your Baby Safely

Learn Why Co-Sleeping Is Potentially Dangerous for Your Baby

Co-sleeping can increase your baby’s risk for suffocation or strangulation.  If your baby sleeps in bed with you, it is important to make sure that your baby is safe.  Also, it is possible that you or your spouse could easily roll on top of your baby while sleeping.  If you choose to co-sleep, you should check out these great products to decrease your baby’s risk of suffocation or strangulation.  Check out these 4 options to make co-sleeping or rooming with your baby safer.

Portable Bedding

A portable bed will reduce your baby’s risks of suffocation and strangulation due to the portable beds construction.  If you plan on co-sleeping why not make it safer for your baby to sleep in the same bed with you and your spouse.  Most portable beds are generally anchored under the mattress so that it can not be moved or flipped over easily.  This type of bed is designed to protect your baby by preventing parents from accidentally rolling over onto the baby.  Depending on the model of portable bed that you choose, most of them fold up for easy storage, travel, and can be used once you try to transition your baby into his or her own room.

Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper

The Arm’s Reach Co-Sleepers are a great addition that easily attaches to the side of your bed so that your baby can sleep within arms reach.  This type of co-sleeper gives your baby their own space to sleep safely.  Your baby will still be close enough so that you can easily reach your baby and pull them close to you whenever you need to feed or sooth your baby.  A side bed co-sleeper is fairly safe as long as you place your baby back into the co-sleeper once you are finished nursing or soothing your baby.

Bassinet

A bassinet is a perfect solution for keeping your baby close to you while providing your baby with a safe place of their own to sleep.  Most bassinets are fairly portable and can easily be moved from room to room.  They don’t take up a large amount of space and you can even put it next to your bed.  If you plan on using a bassinet, it is important that you stop using it when your baby can push up on their own.  You don’t want your baby to accidentally fall out of the bassinet and hurt themselves.

Pack n Play

A pack n play is a great addition that you can easily put in your bedroom so that your baby can sleep in the same room with you at night.  You can place the pack in play close to the bed or in an empty spot your bedroom, depending on your preference, so that you can attend to your baby quickly at night.  Most pack n plays are fancy and come with a bassinet and changing tables for smaller babies.  The great thing about a pack n play, you can continue to use them even when the baby is older and are great for traveling.

If you are planning on co-sleeping, I urge you to check out these options so that you are prepared when you baby is born.  Don’t forget to discuss the idea of co-sleeping with your spouse.  As a mom, I realize that most mom’s want their baby nearby at all times especially if you plan on breastfeeding your newborn.  During those first few weeks, your baby will often wake up several times during the night and having your baby close by makes it easier for everyone to be able to get enough sleep.

 

Did you co-sleep with your baby?  If so, which of these products did you choose and why?

Comments

4 responses to “How to Co Sleep With Your Baby Safely”

  1. Steph @ how to find a man Avatar

    I wonder how moms and their babies slept in the olden days? How did they keep warm?

    Like 100 years ago?

    It would be such a tragedy to find out upon wakening that you crushed ur own baby…

    Perhaps the baby sleeps on top of the mother.

    Hope to know,

    Steph

  2. Rachel Avatar

    I love this article, Christy! Cosleeping is a wonderful thing, and there are so many options. We used the arms reach and loved it. We now have a sidecar crib for our toddler. I can’t imagine it any other way!

  3. Debra S Avatar
    Debra S

    So happy to see this article! The more it’s written about in a positive way the more “normal” it can become! It’s the best and actually the safest thing for baby. Ever wonder why a child wakes up once you put them down? Because that’s not how they’re meant to sleep!! Co-sleeping is instinctive. I couldn’t imagine how miserable my life would be if I’d forced my children to sleep away from me. = )

    1. Christy Avatar

      I always tell parents to trust their instincts and go with their gut. I wanted to give parents options so that they could do what is best for them and their baby, after all a baby grows up in the womb rocked and held closely. Plus they are used to soothing sounds like mama’s heartbeat, which is why they are comfy when they are laying on your chest because it is a familiar sound.