Buzz
Newborns are naturally inclined to wake up their parents at night, which is just part of their development. Many exhausted parents, aware of the risks of bed sharing, opt to feed their baby while seated on the couch. A recent guideline suggests that feeding on the bed might actually be a safer choice.
This advice, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), is based on the observation that parents often fall asleep while feeding at night. Couches are particularly hazardous for sleeping babies as they pose a risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation. For instance, a baby could slip from your arms and become trapped between the couch cushions.
Although the AAP doesn’t fully endorse bed sharing as a safe option, it acknowledges that if you're likely to doze off during a nighttime feeding, the bed might be the safest choice for your baby.
To ensure your bed is a safe place for your baby, use a firm mattress, and clear away any blankets, pillows, or other objects. Always lay your baby on their back, and if you fall asleep, make sure to move them back to their crib as soon as you wake up. Here’s an excerpt from the AAP's updated SIDS guidelines:
The safest sleeping environment for an infant is on a designated sleep surface for babies, positioned near the parents’ bed. While the AAP recognizes that parents often fall asleep during feedings, research shows that it's less risky to sleep with the infant in an adult bed rather than on a couch or chair if the parent dozes off. It's crucial to understand that many infants who die from SIDS are found with their heads covered by bedding. Thus, no pillows, blankets, sheets, or any other items that might obstruct the baby's breathing or lead to overheating should be placed in the bed. Parents should also adhere to the safe sleep guidelines outlined in other parts of this statement. Due to evidence suggesting that bed-sharing risk increases with longer duration, if a parent falls asleep while feeding the baby in bed, the infant should be moved to a separate sleep surface as soon as the parent awakens.
You can read the full recommendation and additional SIDS prevention tips by visiting the link below.
Photo by Micah Sittig.
