Co-sleeping: Safe or Dangerous?
Our Co-sleeping Set-up
According to the BBC World News, the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) just released a study that says co-sleeping or bed sharing with your child, has been implicated in about half of SIDS cases. According to this study, the risk is greatest if either parent smokes, has been drinking, has taken sedatives or is “very tired,” and that small babies, such as preemies are particularly at risk.
According to Dr. Sears, attachment parenting guru who has written two books on the topic and done extensive research on the risks of SIDS when co-sleeping, there is nothing to worry about. In fact, he believes that co-sleeping can actually reduce the risk of SIDS.
The best advice is to do as you would with all things parenting and follow your instincts. As for my husband and I, we knew we wanted to co-sleep, but did not think we would be comfortable with a baby in bed with us. We both toss and turn a lot, our bed is only a queen size, and I tend to throw the blankets in my sleep. My main concern was pillows and blankets landing on baby’s face. Some people are concerned about rolling over on their child, but I doubted that I would do that, just as I wouldn’t roll off the bed. And yet, sleeping is hard enough as a new mom, so why add the worry. We got an Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper, side car crib, and used it for our daughter’s first 11 months, until she grew out of it and we grew into the idea of having a sex life again. We loved it and found it was a great middle ground.
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In Related News, Physical Health | admin April 30, 2009
By Dorothy, May 13, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
So did you end up getting a crib after she grew out of the co-sleeper? We also considered a co-sleeper but just ended up purchasing a bassinet and placed it next to the bed.
By admin, May 21, 2009 @ 8:09 am
Yes, we did end up getting a crib when she was about a year and moved into her own room. It converts into a toddler bed. In hindsight, I could have bought a crib originally and put it next to our bed. However, our room is not quite big enough. BTW, I bought and sold the co-sleeper on craigslist.org.