Doctors Acknowledge That Safe Co-Sleeping Guidelines Should be Shared With New Parents
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents have their infants sleep in the same room with them for the first six months as a way of safe co-sleeping, their recommended guidelines have strictly warned against parents allowing infants to sleep with them in the same bed. Instead, guidelines recommend room-sharing with an infant placed in a good bassinet, or one of the best cribs meeting today’s safety standards.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be placed on their backs on a firm sleeping surface with a tight-fitting sheet. No pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals should be placed in the crib or bassinet. Instead, babies should sleep in safe sleep sacks or swaddling for warmth and comfort.
While these guidelines have been in place since the Safe Sleep Campaign of the 1990’s, some doctors are now supplying their patients with a different guideline option. These are safe bed-sharing guidelines offered by such breastfeeding friendly organizations as La Leche League.
Some Shifting Views on Parent/Infant Sleep Guidelines
Many doctors have finally acknowledged that despite their best efforts, many mothers will still end up sleeping in bed with their newborns beside them. Some even believe that this may be a safer option than an exhausted mother sitting on a chair or sofa for a 2:00 AM feeding and then nodding off. In fact, some of the statistics for infant deaths due to unsafe sleep practices, are actually those parents who fell asleep on a sofa or recliner with their infant in an effort to avoid bed-sharing. A study found that 44 percent of breastfeeding mothers who nursed in chairs or on sofas report falling asleep at least once. In fact, the AAP has more recently updated their guidelines to suggest that mothers who fear they may fall asleep while nursing elsewhere, should return to bed to nurse and then move the baby back to their crib or bassinet the moment she wakes. However, this would mean more sleep disruption for mother and baby.
Doctors are also beginning to more widely acknowledge that breastfeeding mothers who sleep with their babies beside them are more likely to build a strong milk supply and to successfully breastfeed for at least six months.
The Safe Sleep Seven
Guidelines to maximize sleep safety for breastfeeding mothers who choose to sleep with their babies beside them can minimize the risks associated with bed-sharing. La Leche League has introduced simple guidelines to promote the safest possible bedsharing for mom and baby. This includes: 1. Both parents being sober, non-smokers and baby not in the middle. 2. Baby sleeping at breast level beneath mom’s armpit. 3. Baby on his back. 4. Keep baby lightly dressed. 5. No cords or mattress gaps. 6. Keep all covers at mom’s waistline, and off of the baby. 7. Baby must be healthy and not premature.
While there are no absolute guarantees that an accident won’t happen, following these safe bed-sharing guidelines can dramatically reduce the risks, and can potentially result in more sleep for both mom and baby, as well as increased breast milk supply and more successful breastfeeding.
Resources— WhattoExpect, cosleepingnd.edu, LaLecheLeague
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