La Leche League International’s “Safe Sleep Seven” rules for bedsharing co-sleeping families:
If a mother is:
1. A non-smoker
2. Sober
3. Breastfeeding
And her baby is:
4. Healthy
5. On his back
6. Lightly dressed and unswaddled
And they:
7. share a safe surface
Then the baby’s risk of SIDS is no greater than in a crib, and any breathing hazards have been hugely reduced.
The Safe Surface Checklist
Avoid these possible smothering risks:
- Sofas and recliners
- Softness or sagging that rolls your baby against you or keeps him from lifting his head free
- Spaces between mattress and headboard, side rails, or wall where a baby could get stuck
- Pets that could interfere
Clear your bed of:
- Unused pillows
- Stuffed toys
- Heavy covers and comforters
- Anything nearby that dangles or tangles (such as cords, strings, scarves, ribbons, elastics)
Check your bed for possible hazards:
- Distance to floor
- Landing surface
- Sharp, poking, or pinching places
For more information, check out La Leche League International’s new book, Sweet Sleep.