Co-sleeping has many benefits for both the infant and the parents, but there are also significant risks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The AAP considers co-sleeping to include any situation in which the baby is sleeping in the same room as the parents whether they are actually in the bed with the parents or not. Co-sleeping without the baby in the parents' bed has shown to reduce infant death rates by as much as 50 percent. Meanwhile, 69 percent of all sleep-related deaths involved bed sharing.
Ideally, babies will sleep in the same room as their parents, but not in the same bed, to maximize the parents' ability to observe them and react if needed to prevent issues. Bassinets or traditional cribs work well for this purpose provided that the bedding is firm and there are no blankets, pillows, toys, or bumpers inside that could cause accidental suffocation. The baby should sleep on his or her back. Never trust any special monitors or positioners that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Parents should never place themselves and their baby in a position to fall asleep outside of the ideal conditions. Most sleep-related deaths occur when the baby and parent fall asleep in the bed or on couches, armchairs, or other furniture that encourages the baby to sleep on their stomach or increases the likelihood that they fall into a crevice or onto the floor.
If the parent becomes sleepy in these places after feeding or playing with the baby, they should immediately get up and place the baby in the preferred area for sleeping.
