How To Sleep Safely In A Family Bed?

Many parents choose a family bed as their form of sleep, meaning they sleep in the same bed as the baby. Experts want parents to consider certain things in the subject so that the family sleeps safely in the family bed, without being exposed to certain health risks.

There is an ongoing debate about the safety of the family bed. It is true that sleeping together promotes the emotional bond between the child and the parents and facilitates night-time breastfeeding. On the other hand, many suspect the family bed has a connection to covert deaths. This is why experts have come together to find out if sleeping with a baby is recommended.

How to sleep safely in a family bed?

Here are some tips to help you sleep safely in a family bed:

• The baby should sleep on a sturdy but comfortable common mattress that has no cracks that pose a risk of falling.
• Loose pillows, blankets, plush toys or other soft choking objects must not be left in the vicinity of the child.
• Sleeping in an armchair or on a couch with a baby is not safe.
• The parent should not sleep with the baby in his arms.
• A water bed is not a safe place to sleep for a small child, and a baby should not sleep on a pillow.
• The safest sleeping position for a baby is on his or her back, and the movement of his or her limbs must not be restricted, for example by chopping. The parent should sleep on their side, knees hooked and lower arm raised to shoulder level. This keeps the child safe between the parent’s arm and thighs.

• The room should not be too hot and the baby should not have too much clothing on.
• Only parents and baby should sleep in the family bed, not baby siblings or family pets.
• A person sleeping with a baby should not smoke, nor use alcohol, drugs, or tiring medications.

It is good to remember that sleeping in a family bed is not recommended during the first months if the child was born prematurely or underweight.

Ways to sleep in a family bed

When it comes to a family bed, the first thing that comes to mind is a large bed where the whole family sleeps. While this habit is common, there are other options for sleeping in a family bed. There are various cot beds for small children on the market, one side of which has been removed so that the bed is attached to the parents’ bed. This way, the parents have more space and the baby is safe, but still close to their parent.

Some recommend a way of sleeping where the cot is attached to the parents ’bed. As the baby grows, you can put your own mattress next to the parents’ mattress.

The most important thing is that there is a consensus in the family. Parents should act in the best way they see fit, but definitely keep the child safe. The first few months of a baby can be tricky, especially for a mother. So if your family decides to sleep in a family bed, you should keep the above advice in mind – this way you will sleep safely in a family bed.