There are ways to make co-sleeping safer. Just because there have been accidents does not mean that the whole practice of co-sleeping should be abandoned: - if using alcohol, recreational drugs, or medications that cause drowsiness, or are experiencing extreme exhaustion, a parent may find that they are less likely to be aware of baby?s presence in the bed. If partner is less responsive or aware, can avoid placing baby between parents and place baby on the other side instead. ? mattresses - it may be of benefit to use a firm mattress with well fitting covers ? minimize the use of extra pillows and blankets which could reduce the airflow to baby ? waterbeds can be a hazard - can reduce the risk by adding a firm board under baby. ? avoid falls - can place the bed against the wall & place child between mother and the wall, use a crib or a safety rail beside the bed or place the mattress on the floor. Beware of entrapment dangers and pad any spaces. -remove headboard or footboards if they have bars with spaces larger than 6 cm ? use couches with caution - baby may become caught between gaps in cushions ? very large breasted or very obese mothers may need to use careful positioning of baby at the breast if sleeping while baby is nursing to ensure baby has a clear area to breathe. ? adjust sleeping arrangements as needed as baby develops new skills - rolling over, crawling, climbing There are authors who believe that co-sleeping may reduce the risk of SIDS. References: McKenna, Sarah Mosko, & Christopher Richards Breastfeeding infants have more arousels while cosleeping & spend less time in the deep stage of sleep from which some infants have difficulty arousing. When a period of apnea occurs, the baby will arouse to breath. A baby who has difficulty arousing may be at greater risk for a SIDS event Cosleeping regulates infants breathing, sleep state, arousal patterns, heart rates, & body temperature. McKenna, J., Babies Need Their Mothers Beside Them, [Online] Available March 25, 1999: http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/james_mckenna.html. McKenna, J., Rethinking "Healthy" Infant Sleep, [Online] Available March 25, 1999: http://www.parenthoodweb.com/library/RethinkingSleep.htm McKenna, J., Mosko, S., Dungy, C., McAninch, J., Sleep and arousal patterns of co-sleeping human mother/infant pairs: a preliminary physiological study with implications for the study of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Am J Phys Anthropol, 83(3):331-47 1990 Nov. McKenna J; Mosko S., Richard C., Bedsharing promotes breastfeeding, Pediatrics, 100(2 Pt 1):214-9 1997 Aug. McKenna J; Mosko S; Richard C; Drummond S; Hunt L; Cetel MB; Arpaia J, Experimental studies of infant-parent co-sleeping: mutual physiological and behavioral influences and their relevance to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), Early Hum Dev, 38(3):187-201 1994 Sep 15 Sears, W. SIDS: A parents guide to understanding and preventing sudden infant death syndrome, New York: Little Brown & Company, 1995. Janet Vandenberg BScN, RN, IBCLC