Co-Sleeping

I’m committed to co-sleeping, but unsure of how to do it safely. I’d love some solid advice about products and gear for sleeping with my baby.

As you probably know, all of the safety guidelines recommend avoiding co-sleeping if you're under the influence...

of any alcohol/drugs/medication that could make you sleepy, relax your nervous system, or impair your judgment. You also need to take into account your own sleep habits -- if you’re a deep sleeper, you’ll want to be more careful. You’ll need to take heavy blankets/quilts off your bed and instead sleep with more clothes on (if it’s cool) and bed sheets only to avoid suffocating your baby. (Your baby can wear a sleep sack such to stay warm during the night.) Also, make sure any pillows are far from your baby and that there are no gaps between your bed and the wall, or headboard, or furniture where she could get trapped.

Your baby can sleep beside you, but many parents who co-sleep with infants fall asleep with their babies on their chest. Babies love to hear their parent’s heart beat, and parent’s are more attuned to baby when she’s close.

If or when your infant is not sleeping on top of you, we highly recommend the Arm’s Reach co-sleeper. It’s important to follow all instructions to fasten it securely to your bed, and to check it daily because infants’ faces can get wedged into small gaps. Some parents use the Gobedbug bumpers for older babies to make a bed within a large bed, or the pillows can be used as bed rails. We’ve found that most co-sleeping parents are happiest with one or two futons/mattresses on the floor. A firm surface presents less risk of suffocation than a spongy one, and if baby rolls off your mattress, being closer to the floor is safer than being several feet off the ground. Good luck!