Safer baby
sleep
As a Doctor, discussing the concept of co–sleeping or bed–sharing with parents remains a fairly controversial topic. Co–sleeping is defined as an adult and baby sharing a sleep surface (bed, couch, chair, etc) whereas bed–sharing is sharing an adult bed with a parent or parents for sleep. We are naturally concerned that we may be seen as promoting co–sleeping and worry about the risk of sleep related infant deaths. Many parents feel ashamed to admit that they are co–sleeping for fear of how their health professional will react. In the past, it may have been easier to have a blanket statement that co–sleeping isn’t safe, but we may be missing an opportunity for non–judgemental exploration of the current sleep situation at home and education to promote safer infant sleep. As a Mother, I can understand and relate to why 75–80% of babies spend some time co–sleeping in the first 3–6 months of life in Australia. My conviction that I had no intention of ever co–sleeping was not that realistic in the stark reality of my own exhaustion with a baby that just would not sleep. I attempted it in desperation and so the first time I gave it a go it was unplanned,
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O N T H E C OA S T – FAM ILIES
BY DR ALISON MOONEY
I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I couldn’t remember all the safety checks. Luckily, nothing went wrong (no sleep happened either, both my boys thought it was party time) If we advocate for never co–sleeping, a parent may choose to feed their baby in an armchair or sofa which we know can actually increase the risk of SIDS up to 50–fold. The mother may also try to feed sitting up in bed rather than planning safer side–lying breastfeeding. If we initiate a conversation, we can discuss how to plan for safer co–sleeping if or when the situation arises. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under age one with onset of the episode during sleep that is unexplained after a thorough investigation by a coroner. SIDS is very rare (in 2017, 6 in every 100,000 babies died of SIDS in Australia) but it is much more likely to occur in certain situations and is more common at age 2–3 months. There are key hazardous situations to avoid: Sleeping with your baby on a sofa, armchair or make–shift bed Sleeping with your baby after you have consumed alcohol or drugs (including over the counter medication that causes drowsiness) Sleeping with your baby if you are feeling unwell or overly exhausted Sleeping with your baby if you are a smoker or smoked during pregnancy Sleeping with your baby if they are
currently unwell, they were born prematurely or had a low birth weight Room–Sharing It is recommended to sleep in the same room as your baby for the first 6 months of life as it significantly reduces the risk of SIDS compared to babies sleeping in a room alone. This is also applicable for day–sleeps where the baby should be in the same room as a parent. Options include cots, bassinets or Moses baskets close to the adult bed or a three–sided cot that attaches to the parents’ bed. Place baby on their back to sleep Place baby on a clear, firm, flat mattress Ensure baby’s head will not become covered Use a sleep sack or position with feet at the foot of the cot under a firmly tucked sheet Keep the baby in the same room for at least the first 6 months Prevent overheating Do not overdress or cover your baby with too many layers Keep room at 16–20 degrees The room is a smoke–free zone Bed–sharing for the Breastfeeding Mother and Baby (Breast–sleeping) Bed–sharing occurs when a baby shares the adult bed with one or both parents which may be intentional or used as a last resort. Bed–sharing promotes breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. Breastfeeding is a major protective factor against
