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Sharing a Bed with your Baby
Sharing a bed with your baby is your decision.
To make this decision, you need to know that there are risks to sharing a bed with your baby.
Some babies have been hurt or have died by:
- Falling off an adult bed
- Being trapped between a mattress and headboard or mattress and wall
- Being smothered
If you decide to share a bed with your baby, here are some safety measures that may lower the risks:
- Never place an infant to sleep (alone or with someone) on a waterbed, couch, sofa, daybed or armchair. Never leave an infant alone on an adult bed.
- Ensure that others who are sharing the bed (i.e. partner) are aware of the infant's presence.
- Make sure that there are no spaces between the mattress and headboard, walls and other surfaces, which may entrap the infant and lead to suffocation. Make sure that the infant cannot fall out of bed.
- Do not smoke or use substances, such as alcohol or drugs, which may impair waking up and the ability to respond to the infant. Do not bed share when ill, taking medications or if you are extremely tired as this may affect your ability to respond to the infant.
- Do not allow siblings or other children to bed share with an infant. Do not allow pets to share the bed.
If you decide not to share a bed with your baby, you can still keep your baby close, by placing the crib near your bed.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant who is younger than 1 year old. Whether or not you share a bed with your baby, you can reduce the risk of SIDS by:
- Placing your baby on their back to sleep
- Breastfeeding your baby
- Making sure that your baby does not get too warm
- Making sure that your baby is not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (before and after birth)
- Making sure the mattress is firm and flat
If you have any questions, or would like to speak with a Public Health Nurse, call Health Line at 519-271-7600 ext 267 or toll free at 1-877-271-7348.
Reprinted with the permission of Toronto Public Health.
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For more information, contact Health Line at 519-271-7600 ext 267.
Listowel area residents call 1-877-271-7348.
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