Sleeping beauty: The truth about cosleeping
Let’s just get right to it. Cosleeping? It’s safe. With the correct measures in place, sharing a bed with your baby is not only comparable, but preferable, to crib sleeping, and we have evidence upon testimony upon experience to prove it. Birth Source founder Tracey Stolarchuk does it, the editor of this newsletter does it, many past and present employees of the store do it … and we know many of our customers do it, too. Over the years, we’ve met thousands of parents who extol the joys of cosleeping, and in the recent past, we’re so happy to see this approach becoming popular for more families. This article is not about how great it is to cosleep, though, since we know we’re preaching to the choir on that one. This article is for new parents who want to cosleep and just want some pointers. Here’s how to make it safe, from the renowned Dr. James McKenna, founder of the Mother-Baby Sleep Behavioral Laboratory and author of Sleeping with your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping.
Back to Sleep:
Babies are safest on their backs, whether in cribs or in a family bed.
Just say no:
Do not cosleep if you are on any type of medication that causes drowsiness, if you’ve been drinking, or if you smoke or do drugs.
Be firm:
Fluffy bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals do not belong in Baby’s sleeping space. Use a firm mattress and a few layers of thin blankets rather than a heavy, thick duvet. Get rid of all extra pillows and stuffed animals.
Leave space:
If possible, pull your mattress completely off its frame and into the center of the room. This will remove the possibility of Baby falling into small spaces between the wall and the mattress.
Dress for success:
Do not overbundle your baby, as heat will transfer between all individuals sharing a bed. Be attentive to signs of overheating, and be aware of the nighttime temperature in your home and your bedroom.
Consider props:
Birth Source stocks a few products that can ease your mind as a cosleeping parent. Drop in to take a look at our selection of bolsters, books, and wearable blankets, among other things.
Birth Source Inc. stocks the following hand-selected books about attachment parenting:
- The Attachment Parenting Book by William Sears, M.D.; and Martha Sears, R.N.
- Nighttime Parenting by William Sears, M.D.
- Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Cosleeping by James McKenna
From the November 2009 issue of The Source
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