Co-Sleeping With Infants

Get the facts on co-sleeping and bed sharing to keep your newborn safe.

Sleep is precious, especially when you’re raising a newborn. That’s why many parents turn to co-sleeping — or sleeping in close proximity of their baby — to maximize sleep and bonding time.

But despite easy access to your little one for peace of mind and simplified nighttime feedings, some forms of co-sleeping can have harmful effects on your and your baby’s health.

“Some parents find bed sharing helps them and their babies get to sleep more easily, and they feel it provides more bonding time,” says Geisinger pediatrician Joy Drass, MD. “But in addition to possible tragic repercussions, there’s evidence to suggest it isn’t beneficial for the child or parent.”

So before you decide on sleeping arrangements, understand the benefits and risks of co-sleeping with infants. An informed decision can get your baby’s health off to a good start — and make sure you sleep soundly (and safely) with your newborn.

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping is when you and your baby sleep in the same room. It’s a common practice for many families, since newborns need lots of attention.

Co-sleeping might seem like an obvious choice for you and your baby, but there are key distinctions to make. Co-sleeping breaks down into 2 broad categories:

Room-sharing is when your baby sleeps in the same room as you, but in a separate crib, bassinet or co-sleeper. Bedside sleepers, which sometimes attach to your bed and act as a separate bed for your baby, count as room-sharing.

Bed-sharing involves sleeping with your baby in the same bed (or sofa or chair). Put simply, bed-sharing is a form of co-sleeping, but not all co-sleeping is bed-sharing.

You may be tempted to bring your baby into bed with you. After all, it’ll take even less time to feed or check on your baby in the middle of the night. Before you do though, make sure you know the risks involved, so you can practice safe bed sharing with your baby.

Benefits of safe co-sleeping

Pediatricians recommend safe co-sleeping until your baby is at least 6 months old. The benefits include:

Fosters emotional bonding and increases sense of security for your baby
Reduces separation anxiety
Less time needed to check on your baby
Easier breastfeeding
More sleep time for you and your baby

The psychological effects — and practicality — of safe co-sleeping are enough to bring parents on board.

“Room-sharing is a great alternative to bed-sharing,” says Dr. Drass. “It maintains the closeness that can make life easier for parents, while letting your baby sleep in a safer space that fits their needs.”

Why bed sharing with a newborn may not be right for you

Bed sharing might help your baby fall asleep more quickly if you're there when your baby wakes. It can also encourage breastfeeding by making those nighttime feedings more convenient. But evidence suggests that both parent and baby often end up getting less sleep.

“Infants tend to move around and make sounds while they sleep, which could disturb your sleep or wake you because you think your baby needs something,” Dr. Drass says. “Sometimes infants whimper, wake and go right back to sleep during the night. But if you pick up your baby with the first whimper, you may prevent your baby from falling back to sleep on their own.”

In addition, babies sleeping next to their parents tend to spend less time in deep stages of sleep and wake up more often.

“If you want to make nighttime feedings easier and keep your baby close while sleeping without the safety risks, putting a crib or bassinet in your bedroom can be a much safer and comfortable option for both you and your baby,” says Dr. Drass. “Plus, practicing room sharing can make it easier when it’s time to transition your baby to sleeping independently as they grow older.”

However, some parents decide that bed sharing is a better fit for them. Others don’t make the conscious decision to share a bed with their infant — it just sort of happens. Knowing why bed sharing can be dangerous to your baby may change your mind.

Risks of bed sharing with newborns

Bed sharing with a newborn leads to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) due to parents’ typical sleeping environment. When a baby is in your bed, they’re near obstacles and suffocation hazards like:

Blankets
A soft mattress
Lose-fitting sheets
Long hair
Bed rails
Soft cushions

Make sure you’re set up in a spot that’s safe for your baby If you accidentally fall asleep with them. Sofas and armchairs are considered the most dangerous.

Safe bed sharing with your baby is possible, but has risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room sharing, but not bed sharing. As a rule, the academy recommends safe co-sleeping to reduce the risk of SIDS and SUID.

How to safely co-sleep

To safely co-sleep with your baby, follow the ABCs of safe sleep:

Alone
On their Back
In a Crib (bassinet or co-sleeper)

“To make sure your baby is always safe while sleeping, they should be placed to sleep on their back on a firm surface,” says Dr. Drass. “Additionally, their crib or bassinet should be free of fluffy pillows, blankets or stuffed animals — they can pose a suffocation risk.”

Room sharing supports better sleep practices for both parents and baby, while still making it easier to soothe and feed your baby throughout the night. And while sleeping apart from your snuggly little bundle of joy might be tough, in the long run it’s better for you and your child.