What is a safe practice for co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping in the same room is recognized as a safe practice because it enables parents to be close to their infant while significantly reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When infants share a room with their caregivers, it promotes better monitoring and responsiveness to the infant’s needs during the night, which can contribute to safer sleeping conditions.

Co-sleeping in the same room allows the caregivers to easily attend to the baby if they wake or require support, which is particularly important in the early months when infants are most vulnerable. Furthermore, maintaining a separate sleep surface for the infant, such as a crib or bassinet placed within arm's reach, maximizes safety while allowing for the benefits of proximity.

In contrast, sharing the same bed with an infant may pose risks like accidental suffocation or entrapment, especially if the adult is unaware or under the influence of substances that can impair their awareness. Sleeping on a couch is considered particularly hazardous, as the soft surface and potential for gaps can lead to serious risks for the infant. Leaving the infant alone, particularly in an unsafe sleeping environment, further compromises their safety and should be avoided. This highlights the importance of shared room arrangements over bed-sharing or unsafe sleep setups.