Co-sleeping is Safer for Babies than Cribs, Experts say

Where do your babies sleep, in bed with you or in a crib?

Despite the incidence of infant deaths due to drop-side cribs - now banned in the U.S. for causing entrapment - and even if it was not exactly considered safe for babies to sleep in adult beds, a recent poll concludes that co-sleeping (the act of sleeping in the same room as a child) is safer for babies than cribs.

Babies can easily get out of drop-side cribs and children can get trapped in them when there are broken or missing parts.  Over nine million drop-side cribs have been recalled since 2007, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Co-sleeping, on the other hand, may cause injury to infants and may even cause death if safe co-sleeping practices are not observed, such as:

•    Avoiding fluffy pillows that can cause suffocation, using fitted sheets and ensuring there are no gaps between the bed and the wall where baby can fall into. Waterbeds and broken mattresses, of course, are a no-no as well.
•    Keeping the temperature just right so you don’t end up pulling up the sheets too high to accidentally hamper baby’s breathing.
•    Avoiding sleep-inducing medication.  If you are extremely tired and there’s a high chance you may sleep soundly throughout the night, make sure there is another responsible adult who can look after the baby
•    Avoiding wearing strangulation hazards such as jewelry, strings or cords.

 

Click here to read more about how co-sleeping can be safer than having your baby sleep in a crib.

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Read on to learn more about how co-sleeping can be safer than having your baby sleep in a crib.

 

Dr. James McKenna, a famous Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) expert, reveals that co-sleeping and bed-sharing can actually possibly reduce the risk for SIDS.  Statistics also show that countries with the greatest number of parents co-sleeping or bed-sharing with their babies have the lowest incidence of SIDS.

In addition, bed-sharing makes breastfeeding more manageable for mothers, allowing both mother and child to get more sleep in the process.  Since parent and child are physically close to one another, the parent can easily address any discomfort or needs the baby may have. The physical closeness develops a stronger bond and a higher level of baby-parent interaction as well.

Says Dr. McKenna, “Co-sleeping is humankind’s oldest and most successful method of mother and baby sleeping. The push in the western world to get babies to sleep through the night on their own as young as possible is doing more harm than good. Whether it’s in the same bed or on a separate sleeping area in the same room, no baby should ever sleep outside the direct supervision of an adult.”

While the debate still ensues on what’s a safer option for babies, it really is a matter of choice for the parents. Whether they opt for co-sleeping, bed-sharing or letting their babies sleep in cribs, the key is to determine and follow safe practices to ensure their baby’s safety and health.


Photo from flickr.com

SOURCES:
•    “26 US Crib Injuries a Day: Co-sleeping is safer” Wellsphere.com
•    March 18, 2011. Jennifer Chait. “Co-sleeping is Safer Than Cribs Says SIDS Researcher James McKenna” inhabitots.com
•    March 15, 2011. Summer. “Expert Says Co-Sleeping Is Safer Than a Crib” GrowingYourBaby.com
•    September 6, 2010. Summer. “Safer Sleeping ~ Co-Sleeping Do’s And Don’ts” GrowingYourBaby.com