Safe Sleep and Cosleeping
In 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their guidelines to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. The AAP recommends cosleeping (in the form of room sharing, not bed sharing) for the first 6 months and through the first 12 months if possible.
The ABCs of Safe Sleep
Alone
The sleep space should be free of stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, pets, and loose sheets (tight-fitted sheets are great). The sleep surface should be free of parents as well.
Back
Babies should be placed on their back for sleep.
Once a baby can independently roll, it is still considered safe to place the baby on their back. You do not need to roll your baby over if they independently roll in a different position.
Crib
The baby should be alone in their sleep space. A sleep space should be a bassinet, cot, or crib that is specifically designed for infants. Please always check the product descriptions. As an example, a bouncing reclining chair would not be a safe sleep space.
Safe Sleep Seven
La Leche League
Most parents agree that the safest place for their baby is alone, on their back, and in their crib. There is so much evidence to support this being the best option for reducing sleep-related deaths in infants.
Most parents are also sleep deprived at some point and fall asleep when they're not planning to do so. While I would never recommend that someone bedshare, I do want parents to be mindful of the environment they're holding their child in when they're tired. Rocking a baby to sleep on a couch when the parent is tired is more harmful than rocking the baby to sleep in a bed that is completely free of pillows and hazards.
With that information in mind, I wanted to share the Safe Sleep Seven guidelines developed by La Leche League. If you are consistently too tired to safely care for your child, working with a sleep consultant, doing shifts overnight with your partner or trusted friend/family member, and/or having a night nurse are great next steps.
