If you are a mom or dad considering sleeping with your baby in bed, you may want to know more about the safety issues surrounding the subject. The good news is, it is perfectly natural to want to have your infant near to you as much as possible. It does help both parents to bond with the baby. So, naturally, sharing a bed as a family can be a beautiful idea.
With co-sleeping though, there are some important issues that any parent should consider regarding their infants safety. As much as we want them near to us, we want even more to know they are safe.
Here are some important factors to consider before you try to co-sleep with an infant in your bed. If you fall into any of the below categories, you may want to reconsider co-sleeping with an infant in your bed.
Do you have a water mattress or very soft mattress? If so, it is not advisable to sleep with an infant. In these instances, there is a greater risk of suffocation, so it is wise to consider a separate co-sleeper bed.
Does your mattress or headboard have open areas where an infant could get trapped? Holes in a headboard or an uneven mattress could lead to risk of strangulation for an infant.
Do you drink or take drugs, even legal, before you go to sleep? If the answer is yes, you may be a heavy sleeper who would be less likely to notice a rollover onto an infant. Because this is the most common cause of death in infant co-sleeping arrangements, it is important to take precautions when this is the case for one or both partners.
Whether or not you fall into any of the above categories, co-sleeping with a baby in your bed is most safe when the baby is in a specially designed bed of their own. Whether this is put in your bed, or attached to your bed like a mini crib, it still affords the same closeness, sharing, bonding and convenience you receive from co-sleeping arrangements.
This way, both parents can feel secure that their infant is near, while knowing there is no chance they will hurt their baby. Mothers can easily nurse at night, and quickly put the baby back to sleep. Mom will feel more rested, and dad will be happy knowing mom feels happier. Your baby will also feel comforted, knowing anytime they need you, you are right there to soothe them.
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If you have been considering sleeping with your baby, you can see a great selection of available bed styles at http://www.squidoo.com/co-sleeper-for-bed. This includes in-bed styles, as well as beds that attach to keep baby close to you all night. After checking out the selection, you can make an informed decision about the right bed for your child.