Co-Sleeping
24/7 Helpline
Call the 24-hour crying baby helpline at 866-243-2229 (BABY)
Share a Room, Not a Bed
Co-sleeping means that babies and parents sleep together in the same bed. It’s sometimes called “bed-sharing”. You may like the idea of cuddling with your baby at bedtime, but co-sleeping may put your baby at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other dangers, like suffocation. SIDS is the unexplained death of a baby while sleeping.
During co-sleeping, a baby can be hurt by:
- Having a person roll on top of the infant
- Suffocation when an infant gets trapped or wedged between a mattress and bed frame, wall, headboard or footboard
- Suffocation resulting from a baby being face-down on a water bed, a regular mattress, or on soft bedding – such as pillows, blankets or quilts
- Falling off the bed
Sharing a bed with a baby can sometimes prevent parents from getting a good night’s sleep. Infants who co-sleep can learn to associate sleep with being close to a parent in the parent’s bed. Many parents find that they get some of the benefits of co-sleeping without the risks by having the baby sleep in a bassinet or crib in the same room, near their bed.
Always remember –
Playtime, daytime on the tummy
Naptime, nighttime on the back
24/7 Helpline
Call the 24-hour crying baby helpline at 866-243-2229 (BABY)