We let our 3-month-old sleep with us in our bed. Is this a good idea?
– Liz and Eric
Cosleeping — sharing your bed with your baby — is an issue that people often disagree on. Proponents say it helps a baby fall asleep, is easier on nursing mothers, and promotes the bond between parent and child.
Opponents of cosleeping say that in addition to making the baby dependent on the parents to fall asleep, it can be dangerous. Studies have suggested that the adult bed can be unsafe — parents could roll over onto the baby, the baby could be suffocated in the bedding or could get trapped between the mattress and a wall or headboard. Cosleeping may increase the risk of SIDS, especially in babies of mothers who smoke. Because of these studies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend cosleeping.
However, if you do choose to cosleep, make sure to always put your baby to sleep on his back. Make sure your bed's headboard and footboard do not have openings or cutouts that could trap your baby's head. Check that your mattress fits snugly in the bed frame so that your baby will not become trapped. Try to have minimal amounts of bedding — avoid big fluffy pillows and blankets.
Also make sure that you haven't taken any drugs, alcohol, or other substances that may make you groggy and less responsive to your child (such as nighttime cough medicines or sleep aids). Cosleeping is more dangerous when there are multiple children in the bed.
For more information, check out these articles:
Cosleeping and Your Baby
Sleep and Your Newborn
Sleep and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old
Sleep and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old
Sleep and Your 8- to 12-Month-Old
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2007
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD
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