It is important to develop bonding and attachments with your baby before and after he/she is born. Bonding with your newborn can occur during feeding time, playtime and sleep time. Sharing a room with your baby is a perfect way to bond. It is also the safest place for your baby to sleep at least during the first 6 months, during the daytime or nighttime.
Sleeping with your baby, however, does not mean you should be sleeping on the same bed or cot with your infant. This has been proven to be unsafe for the baby. Instead, you can place a crib or cot in your room for the baby or place a temporary bed in your baby’s room for yourself.
Studies have shown a significant reduction in the possibility of sudden infant death (SIDS) when the baby is sleeping in the same room as the parent(s), but not the same bed. Being close to your babies while they sleep makes it easy to monitor them and swiftly respond to their needs.
It has also been revealed that the chances of SIDS are increased by certain factors, which might put babies at extra risk. One such risk is sleeping on an armchair or rocking chair with your baby.
As cozy and comfortable as they might be, it is not a good idea to sleep on couches, sofas, armchairs or rocking chairs with your infant. In fact, doing this is one of the most high-risk situations for your baby. This is backed by research that has shown that a great percentage of babies who died of SIDS were found sleeping with an adult on a sofa.
So, how can you ensure that you aren’t putting your baby at risk? If you're falling asleep while nestling your baby, be sure to place him or her in a safe place nearby. Don’t make the mistake of falling asleep with your baby in a chair or worse, your bed.
You might be thinking, “What about when I’m breastfeeding, isn’t it easy for this to happen?” We would strongly advise that if you’re tired you should have someone stay up with you while the baby suckles or put yourself in a position where you cannot fall asleep while feeding.
Let’s keep doing the best we can to keep our little bundles of joy completely safe!