Tools
you can use: Checklist for safe cosleeping
By Elizabeth Pantley
Throughout my book The No-Cry Sleep Solution, readers
will see that it's evident all four of our babies have been welcomed
into our family bed. My husband Robert and I have allowed our
children to share our bed, and our children have enjoyed sharing
a “sibling bed” as well. Of critical importance, however,
is the fact that we have religiously followed all known safety
recommendations for sharing sleep with our babies.
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The
safety of bringing a baby into an adult bed has been the subject
of much debate in modern society, especially recently. In 1999,
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a
recommendation against cosleeping with a baby under age two. Nevertheless,
some polls show that nearly 70% of parents do share sleep with
their babies either part or all of the night. Most parents who
do choose to co-sleep are avidly committed to the practice and
find many benefits in it.
The CPSC's warning is controversial and has stirred heated debate
among parents, doctors and childhood development experts about
the accuracy and appropriateness of the recommendation. Many experts
believe that the issue demands more research. In the meantime,
it is very important that you investigate all the viewpoints and
make the right decision for your family. And remember: Even if
you decide against sleeping with your infant, you can look forward
to sharing sleep with your older baby if that suits your family.
The following safety list, as well as any references to co-sleeping
in my book, are provided for those parents who have researched
this issue and have made an informed choice to cosleep with their
baby. Wherever you choose to have your baby sleep, whether for
naps or nighttime, please heed the following recommended safety
precautions:
Your bed must be absolutely safe for your baby.
The best choice is to place the mattress on the floor, making
sure there are no crevices that your baby can become wedged in.
Make certain your mattress is flat, firm, and smooth. Do not allow
your baby to sleep on a soft surface such as a waterbed, sofa,
pillowtop mattress, beanbag chair or any other flexible and yielding
structure.
Make certain that your fitted sheets stay secure and cannot
be pulled loose. If your bed is raised off the floor,
use mesh guardrails to prevent baby from rolling off the bed,
and be especially careful that there is no space between the mattress
and headboard or footboard. (Some guardrails designed for older
children are not safe for babies because they have spaces that
could entrap tiny bodies.)
Check every night to be sure there is no space between
the mattress and wall or furniture where baby could become
stuck, if your bed is placed against a wall or against other furniture.
An infant should be placed between his mother and the
wall or guardrail. Fathers, siblings, grandparents, and
babysitters don't have the same instinctual awareness of a baby's
location as do mothers. Mothers: Pay attention to your own sensitivity
to baby. Your little one should be able to awaken you with a minimum
of movement or noise — often even a sniff or snort is usually
enough. If you find that you sleep so deeply that you only wake
when your baby lets out a loud cry, seriously consider moving
baby out of your bed, perhaps into a cradle or crib near your
bedside.
Use a large mattress to provide ample room and
comfort for everyone.
Consider a “sidecar” arrangement
in which baby's crib or cradle sits directly beside the main bed.
Make certain that the room your baby sleeps in and any
room he might have access to is childproof. (Imagine
your baby crawling out of bed as you sleep to explore the house.
Even if he has not done this — yet — you can be certain
he eventually will!)
Do not ever sleep with your baby if you have been drinking
alcohol, if you have used any drugs or medications, if you are
an especially sound sleeper or if you are suffering from sleep
deprivation and find it difficult to wake.
Do not sleep with your baby if you are a large person,
as a parent's excess weight poses a proven risk to baby in a co-sleeping
situation. I cannot give you a specific weight-to-baby ratio;
simply examine how you and baby settle in next to each other.
If baby rolls towards you, if there is a large dip in the mattress
or if you suspect any other dangerous situations, play it safe
and move baby to a bedside crib or cradle.
Remove all pillows and blankets during the early months.
Use extreme caution when adding pillows or blankets as
your baby gets older. Dress baby and yourselves warmly for sleep.
(A tip for breastfeeding moms: wear an old turtleneck or T-shirt,
cut up the middle to the neckline, as an undershirt for extra
warmth.) Keep in mind that body heat will add warmth during the
night. Make sure your baby doesn't become overheated.
Do not wear nightclothes with strings or long ribbons.
Don't wear jewelry to bed. If your hair is long, pin it up.
Don't use strong-smelling perfumes or lotions that may affect
your baby's delicate senses.
Do
not allow pets to sleep in bed with your baby.
Never leave your baby alone in an adult bed unless
that bed is perfectly safe for your baby, such as a firm mattress
on the floor in a childproof room and when you are nearby or listening
in on baby with a reliable baby monitor.
No proven safety devices exist for use in protecting a
baby in an adult bed as of this writing. However, a number
of new inventions are beginning to appear in baby catalogs and
stores in response to the great number of parents who wish to
sleep safely with their babies. You may want to look into some
of these nests, wedges, cradles, sheet securers and so on.
For more information, please visit:
· www.attachmentparenting.org/cosleep.htm
· www.drgreene.org/body...
· www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp
· www.naturalchild.com/..../sleeping_safe.html
Parenting educator
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of numerous parenting books, including
the widely cited The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to
Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night. Buy her books at
Powells.com.
She is a regular radio show
guest and is quoted frequently on the web and in national family
and women’s publications. Elizabeth lives in Washington
state with her husband, their four children and her mother. Visit
her at www.pantley.com/elizabeth.
