FollowThe Dangers of Co-Sleeping
with Your Baby
Throughout the course of history, many children have slept in the same bed as their parents. This is something that is often referred to as co-sleeping and is considered to be quite normal in some countries. However, there are several risks and dangers that are associated with co-sleeping that really can’t be ignored. A recent study done by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that the number of infant deaths in the United States from smothering and strangulation in bed has quadrupled over the last two decades. The data obtained from the study showed that the majority of these infant deaths were due to co-sleeping. Here are some risks and dangers of co-sleeping with your baby.
There are several reasons that co-sleeping is considered to be risky. Any time a baby is in your bed with you, they can be hurt, injured or worse. Babies can get trapped by the headboard or the frame of the bed. They can also get themselves stuck in-between the bed and the wall, if the bed is up against the wall. If they are sleeping on the side of the bed, they can roll off the bed. They can be smothered by pillows or blankets. If they are lying on their stomach, they can also be smothered. Also, an adult in the bed can accidentally roll on top of them.
Another danger of co-sleeping is the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Learn some tips on how to prevent SIDS. About 50% of infant deaths that occur, usually happen when they are sharing a bed, sofa or chair with an adult. There are some risk factors that contribute to SIDS including if your child is under the age of 3 months and if anyone else is sleeping in the bed. Also, if you are extremely tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this increases the possibility of SIDS as well because it may be harder for you to wake up if your baby needs you.
If you like your baby being near you, you can have them in the same room as you but in their own crib or bassinet.
