what is co sleeping baby

Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. Co-sleeping can be planned, such as when parents bring their babies into bed with them to sleep, or it can happen unintentionally, such as when parents fall asleep on a couch holding their baby. Co-sleeping can help with breastfeeding and make it easier to respond to babies during the night, and it can also be good for bonding with babies. However, co-sleeping is associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleep accidents. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against bed-sharing because it increases a babys risk for SIDS. The safe way to co-sleep with your baby is to room-share, where your baby sleeps in your bedroom, in her own crib, bassinet, or playard. The Lullaby Trust has worked with Public Heath England, Unicef UK Baby Friendly, and Basis on two publications to support families with safer sleep advice and advice on co-sleeping more safely. To reduce the risk of SUDI, caregivers should ensure that their baby can breathe easily and that their airway is clear. Caregivers should also avoid sleeping on couches, recliners, or rockers with their baby and should not use weighted blankets, sleepers, or swaddles on or around their baby.