Why I Share A Bed With My Baby Part 2

I shared a bed with my baby from the moment he was born, and since that time have heard a lot of alarmist comments on the perceived danger of mamas sleeping with their babies. Every mama I know who has slept with her baby says the same thing: There is no possible way she could roll onto her baby. Fathers, maybe. But mamas, never.

Infant co-sleeping deaths can virtually always be attributed to one of the following unsafe sleep practices:

• An adult in the bed is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• An adult in the bed is a smoker.
• An adult in the bed is obese (thus creating a "trough" in the mattress that baby can roll into).
• There is room between the mattress and the wall or furniture that baby can roll into.
• There are blankets or other items on the bed that baby can burrow under.
• Baby is sleeping with an adult on a couch, chair, water bed, or other soft, flexible surface.

It is the sleep environment that can be dangerous, not the co-sleeping. Unfortunately, some state government agencies have decided it is easier to advise against co-sleeping than it is to educate the public on unsafe sleep practices. Thus, co-sleeping is often vilified and unnecessarily termed dangerous. How sad, considering the fact that bed sharing in a safe environment actually decreases the risk of SIDS.

Regardless of where baby sleeps, mama should always take responsibility to ensure the sleep environment is safe. Here are a few safety check items for a co-sleeping mama:

• Make sure there is no space between the mattress and the wall, headboard, footboard, or other piece of furniture that baby can get stuck in. (I always perform the two finger test.)
  
• Make sure the fitted sheet is snug on the mattress and cannot easily be pulled off.
  
• Do not use blankets or comforters. (Receiving blankets are fine.) Instead, keep the room at a comfortable temperature (at least 68 degrees) and dress in layers if needed.
• Keep pillows away from baby's face. Do not place stuffed toys in the bed.
• Do not wear pajamas with strings or long ribbons.
  
• Do not sleep on a water bed, pillow-top mattress, or any other soft, flexible surface.
• Make sure no lamps, cords, electrical items, or drapes are within arms reach of the bed.

My baby started rolling about the time we moved to Colorado. So once we arrived, I placed our mattress directly on the floor (with no box spring). I also bought a Snug Tuck Pillow to prevent any roll-offs during the middle of the night. It was the most reasonably priced product of its kind, and did a great job keeping us both on the mattress while asleep!