Is Bedsharing Safe?
I hear so many parents confused and conflicted about bedsharing. Is it safe? Is it ok to do?
Let’s go through some of the recommendations and things you may want to consider.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages bedsharing, while many other organizations including the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) are more supportive.
The AAP recommends that babies sleep on a separate surface in proximity to their parent or care giver (room sharing, but not bed sharing).
The ABM recommendations support informed bedsharing by breastfeeding families in the absence of known risk factors.
You may be wondering why there are differing recommendations around bedsharing. In the U.S. we aim our public health messaging at the most high-risk groups. We go for one message rather than nuanced messaging.
Other countries and organizations recognize that there are benefits to bedsharing, including increased breastfeeding duration and exclusivity even compared to room sharing babies, more stable physiological regulation for baby, easier nighttime parenting, and often better sleep for everyone.
When baby is sleeping on a separate surface, we must acknowledge the risk of unintended bedsharing or falling asleep in another unsafe situation in an effort not to bring baby into bed. Since parents bedshare regardless of recommendations, it’s important we talk about safe bedsharing.
A bit more context…
Bedsharing is practiced around the world, including in countries with much lower sleep related deaths than the U.S. It is the cross-cultural, historical, and biological norm.
Research shows that the majority of breastfeeding families do sleep with their baby at least some of the time.
Regardless of whether you plan to bedshare, it’s important to understand what is safe and not safe so that you avoid falling asleep in an unsafe situation.
The safety and risks of bedsharing are not uniform among families.
The safest group for bedsharing is described well in the safe sleep seven from the La Leche League International book Sweet Sleep. It includes parents who are breastfeeding, sober, and non-smokers; babies who are healthy, on their back, and lightly dressed and unswaddled; and that this pair is sharing a safe surface. Links for further reading are at the bottom of this blog post.
A safe bedsharing surface involves many of the safe sleep recommendations for crib set ups including a firm mattress with no gaps between the bedframe and surrounding furniture, no soft bedding (pillows and heavy covers) around the baby, and laying on their back at breast height with the nursing parent curled around baby in the cuddle curl position. The cuddle curl position creates a safe place for baby with the parent on their side, with their arm above baby’s head between baby and the parent’s pillow, and the parent’s knees pulled up below baby.
Your baby is safer sleeping on a separate surface if:
You smoke or have smokers in the house
You formula feed
You have a soft mattress or otherwise cannot make the bed a safe surface
Your baby is premature
You’ve drunk alcohol or are taking any medications that would make you sleep more deeply
You are extremely sleep deprived, less than 5 hours of sleep in the previous 24 hours. This will affect how deeply you sleep and your awareness of your baby.
Setting up a safe sleeping space for your baby is important. Thinking about nighttime feeds and the possibility of falling asleep accidentally with baby is part of that process. Whether you know you want to bedshare or think you never will, understanding how to do it safely is important.
Reach out if you’d like help setting up safe sleep and nighttime parenting strategies. Bedsharing is one way, but it’s not the only way.