Co-sleeping: benefits, safety rules, and alternatives
Sleeping close to the baby makes nighttime feeds easier and reassures many parents. But sharing the same bed comes with strict rules to follow.
Safety rules if you share the bed
- A firm mattress, with no pillow, duvet, or soft object near the baby
- No alcohol, tobacco, or sedative medication for the parents that night
- The baby never between two adults, always on one parent's side, never in the middle
The bedside bassinet alternative
Attached to the parents' bed, it allows reassuring closeness without the risks of sharing a mattress directly. It's the option recommended by most health professionals to balance closeness and safety.
What to know
Bed-sharing isn't recommended before 6 months by several health authorities, nor in cases of prematurity or low birth weight. Each family should decide with full awareness of the actual risks.
A bedside bassinet is an ideal registry item: on Kickoala, you can add it and let several loved ones contribute toward it.