Safe Co-sleepingPage TwoGo back to page one Being aware He also found that mothers who sleep with their infants have been shown to be keenly aware of her child's breathing and temperature throughout the night and are able to quickly respond to any significant changes. "The baby will know that you are there and (you) can respond emotionally and physiologically in potentially beneficial ways," he says. "Babies arouse more frequently, but for shorter average durations than if the baby slept apart, and spend less time in deeper stages of sleep, which may not be beneficial for babies with arousal deficiencies" Heidi Perkins, of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, has been sharing sleep with her 17-month-old daughter since her child was born. "When our daughter was first born, she would sleep on my chest wrapped up in her blankets, and during that time we put our bed up against the wall. Now we have a portable safety bar that we put on the side of the bed, and also lowered our bed so that she can climb up and down if she wanted," she says. "We don't use a lot of blankets, and don't use blankets that are too heavy." Liz Vazquez decided co-sleeping was right for her family before they even conceived their now 19-month old daughter. She says the key to making the family bed safe is "two alert parents." "We both learned early on to be aware of the baby at all times -- her position, her breathing, everything," says Vazquez, of Austin, Texas."... We generally keep the baby between us for safety, and the mattress is on the floor. We found it particularly important to have the mattress on the floor once our daughter starting rolling over. We also have some pillows on the floor next to the bed in case she were to roll out of bed. It's also important, of course, to make sure that the bedroom is child safe, since the baby is not in any sort of enclosure as she would be in a crib." Safety guidelines McKenna recommends parents follow these guidelines when co-sleeping:
Jacquelyn O'Brien of Fairfax, Virginia says she uses a side rail on her bed to protect her 9-month-old son. "And when I nurse my son on my husband's side of the bed I put a pillow between me and my husband so my husband won't roll onto our side," she says. "Usually my son sleeps on his back between me and the guard rail. I sleep on my side facing the baby with my arm resting on him. When he changes position or starts waking up to nurse I am instantly aware. Sometimes he sleeps right on my chest, tummy to tummy. We keep pillows to a minimum. I make sure I never become intoxicated or take medication that will make me too sleepy. If I do, I put the crib right next to my bed and keep my hand on the baby. That way he is near me, but in a safe place." Doing what's best for you While these strategies may work for some parents, they may not work for everyone, so O'Brien suggests new parents do what works best for them. 
"Co-sleeping doesn't always mean the child has to be right there in bed with
you. It could mean in the same room, etcetera," she says.
Parents who are unsure about co-sleeping but want to have their baby nearby may want to consider using a crib-like co-sleeper like the Arms Reach Co-Sleepers which are infant beds that securely attach to the parents' bed. Other devices, such as the Snuggle Nest, a small bed with protective sides that can be used on the parents' bed, also are sold through various retailers. 
Links, information and more for you  Safe Sleep for Your Baby
Crying Baby, Sleepless Nights
What is Attachment Parenting?
Directory of family articles
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About the author: Jennifer Newton Reents is a work-at-home freelance writer and editor for GeoParent. She lives in Kansas with her husband and young son. |
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