- First off, SIDS means Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. That means that there was no known cause of the death of the infant. I have my own beliefs about such a thing in regard to immunizations, unseen health problems, and babies just forgetting to breath.
- SIDS can be prevented when baby can hear mother sleeping and breathing. In utero, babies hear mama's lungs all of the time and although they aren't breathing in the womb, continuing this practice is very important for baby.
- Suffocation, while a real thing, is very unlikely in a safe co-sleeping setting. When both (or one) parent are alert and aware of baby next to them, the risk is just as low as baby suffocating in their own crib or bassinet.
- When co-sleeping with baby, keep the baby ABOVE your shoulders, level to your head. Risk for suffocation is greatly lowered when the baby is at this level as we commonly pull up our covers at night to keep warm and that can cause baby to entangle or be unable to breath. When baby is at the same level of your face you are much more likely to keep the blankets off of baby as you are also keeping your own face open for breathing.
- Although in your bed, make sure baby has his own space for sleeping and his own blankets. Babies use much lighter blankets than adults to prevent too much weight on their little chests. It's important for the baby to have it's own space in your bed for safety reasons. A great product to help with this is a "Snuggle Nest" which keeps baby elevated and in his own area in the bed. If you are sleeping with a partner parent, this device is best in a larger bed, preferably king size or California king sized beds.
- NEVER EVER co-sleep on a water bed! Baby can get trapped in the creases or roll much easier.
- If co-sleeping with another parent, make sure to use TWO blankets. One for each of you. This alleviates the possibility of one parent pulling up the blanket too high and causing it to rise in the middle where baby is sleeping.
- When nursing baby in bed, make sure that baby is safely in your arms. Laying on your side works best with baby nestled in the crook of your arm (same as you would for normal breastfeeding). Try and put baby back in his (her) "nest" area after nursing. If you fear that you will fall asleep nursing, make sure that your blanket is UNDER baby to ensure that you do not cover baby with it. Also, make sure that you are in a position where your breast will not cover baby's nostrils if you are not holding it.
- NEVER co-sleep with other children in the bed. This can be very dangerous as other kids/toddlers are not as conscious of a co-sleeping environment and can easily roll over onto baby in the night.
- NEVER co-sleep under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This really lowers your level of awareness and can cause you to sleep too deeply to be a safe co-sleeper. In such instances, use your crib, bassinet, or play-yard for baby to sleep. OR, simply make the person under said influence sleep elsewhere.
- Be AWARE. Listen for your baby's noises (a natural response for a new mom). Feel the baby's breath movements when you are sleeping. You will actually become a much lighter sleeper when you are a new mom naturally. Dads experience this as well but to a slightly lesser extent. Just tell dad to be cautious and make the judgement call for yourself as to whether or not dad is too "restless" a sleeper.
- If you are breastfeeding, it is okay to sleep near your baby while sick. The baby is very unlikely to get your illness as your milk produces antibodies for the baby based on your own. Very rarely does a baby catch a cold or flu from mama. The miracle of nature.
- Make sure that your pillows are not large or to not impede where baby is sleeping. Try and use twin sized pillows to ensure no accidental movement over baby.
- If you worry about breathing, invest in an angelcare movement monitor. This device slips comfortably under baby's sleeping area and indicates if baby stops breathing with an alarm. This device is handy in a bassinet as well. Be sure not to put the monitor near where you are so to cause it to pick up on your breathing movements, as that will alter the effectiveness.
- Suckle device: Although I am not an avid pacifier enthusiast, it is known to lower risk of SIDS if baby has one in early months (from 1-5 when SIDS is at highest risk). The suckle reflex, both on the breast and using a pacifier automatically causes baby to breathe through the nose.
- Of course, still keep baby on his (her) back to sleep. This is the safest position unless baby is in the crook of your arm nursing in which case baby on it's side is perfectly fine as you are holding the baby.
If you follow these simple tips, you can really make a great difference in your sleeping experience by allowing your baby to be where it wants to be...right near mama. This helps mama get more rest as well, as nursing then, does not have to be something that you must stay awake to do. There is actually a LOWER risk for baby this way for multiple reasons, one being that moms sometimes fall asleep while sitting up to nurse and can drop baby. If you practice aware, conscious, safe co-sleeping you will be so pleased with the results. And baby will too! Happy slumber all you mama's out there!
