How to safely co-sleep with your baby

Co-sleeping is when a baby sleeps on the same surface as another person. This might mean they share your bed. Co-sleeping can help with breastfeeding and bonding, but it isn’t always safe.

Some sleeping arrangements can increase the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) or sleep accidents.

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a safe cot in their parent’s room. Some parents choose to co-sleep with their baby and bring them into bed with them. Each family should decide on the sleeping arrangement that is right for them.

If you decide to co-sleep with your baby, there are ways to reduce the risks and make it safer.

Unintentional co-sleeping is when you fall asleep on a chair or sofa while holding your baby.

Here are some safe sleeping tips:

• place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their tummy or side
• keep their head and face uncovered
• keep the environment around your baby smoke free
• breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of SUDI
• put your baby in their own safe sleep space for day and night sleeps
• sleep with baby in your room for the first 6 to 12 months

Red Nose recommends (Opens in new tab) that your baby sleeps in their own safe sleep space such as a cot. They do not recommend co-sleeping.

However, you can still follow the other tips if you decide to co-sleep with your baby in your bed.

It’s also important to avoid your baby getting too hot.

It’s helpful for parents to consider why co-sleeping might be right for them and their baby. It might be normal in your culture to co-sleep, or to sleep separately.

You might like to have your baby co-sleep because you sleep better yourself if baby is close. Or you might prefer not to co-sleep, but find your baby sleeps better when they share a bed with you.

Having baby nearby for night feeds might make it easier, especially if you are breastfeeding.

But it can be difficult for parents to co-sleep with their baby during the day because of the time this requires.

It can also be helpful for babies to go to sleep in the same (safe) place for all or most of their sleeps. This helps them to get a consistent message that it is time to sleep.

Think about where you could co-sleep with your baby, so that you can do it in the safest way possible.

If you choose to co-sleep, here are some ways to make it safer:

• Place your baby on their back to sleep, never on their side or tummy. This will help to keep their airways open.
• Keep your baby’s head and face uncovered. Make sure all pillows and bedding are away from your baby. You could place your baby at breast level on your bed.
• Use a safe sleeping bag with a fitted neck and armholes and no hood. Make sure your baby’s arms are out.
• Tie up your hair if it is long. Remove anything which could be a strangling risk. Jewellery, teething necklaces and dummy chains can be dangerous.
• Make sure your baby can’t fall off the bed. Place your mattress on the floor if you can. Make sure your baby can’t become stuck between the mattress and a wall. The surface should be clean, flat and firm.
• Make a clear space for your baby and place them on their back to the side of one parent. Position your baby away from the edge and never in-between two adults, or next to other children or pets.

Read more about safely co-sleeping and breastfeeding (Opens in new tab), at the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

There are a range of factors which can increase the risks of co-sleeping. These include:

• the type of surface your baby sleeps on — avoid soft mattresses or lamb’s wool underlays
• the type of bedding used — avoid loose bedding such as blankets or quilts for your baby
• anything that covers their head — remove hats and avoid hoods
• items in the bed — keep pillows and soft toys out of your baby’s bed
• more than one other person sharing the bed — they might overheat
• sharing a bed with someone who smokes or is difficult to wake

Using a dummy or pacifier at sleep time is safe. You can start offering a dummy after breastfeeding is established.

There are some situations when co-sleeping is not recommended because it is unsafe. These include:

• if you or your partner smoke
• if you or your partner have been drinking alcohol
• if you have used any drugs or medicines that make you sleep heavily so you are less aware and able to respond to your baby
• if you are extremely tired or unwell
• if your baby is sick
• if your baby was born prematurely, or they are small for their gestational age

Falling asleep on the sofa or a chair

Falling asleep holding a baby on a couch or chair is always unsafe. Your baby could slip and become wedged or smothered in the cushions. They could fall onto the floor.

It’s common for your baby to settle on your chest while you cuddle them. But this has the same risks as putting them to bed on their tummy if you’re not watching them. Sleeping face down can make it harder for them to breathe.

If your baby falls asleep while you are holding them, move them to a safe sleeping space before you fall asleep too. Put your sleeping baby down on their back.

There are many sources of support and guidance if you choose to co-sleep with your baby. Look for information backed by evidence and research.

• Speak with your child health nurse, GP or paediatrician about your baby and safe sleeping.
• Learn more about co-sleeping with your baby (Opens in new tab) and safe sleeping (Opens in new tab) from Red Nose.
• Visit SleepHealth Foundation to learn more about safe sleeping and babies (Opens in new tab).
• The Australian Breastfeeding Association also have more information on breastfeeding and co-sleeping (Opens in new tab).