Donate

Login

Register

A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address.

Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy.

0 - $0.00

No products in the cart.

Bedsharing and Lactation

PDF Version

Our expectations around infant sleep often do not match the normal sleep patterns of newborns and infants. Parenting is exhausting, and if an infant or toddler isn’t sleeping, neither is their parent. This can lead to parents feeling desperate to find ways to help their child to sleep. Ultimately, the best strategy for infant and toddler sleep is one that is safe and functional for your family. Please speak with a trusted physician or healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about your infant’s sleep.

Risk Reduction with Bedsharing

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control recommend not bedsharing. However, multiple studies have shown that a large percentage of parents will share a sleep space with their baby at some point – whether intentionally or by accident.

What we know:

  • Unsafe bedsharing practices increase the risk of infant injury and/or death.
  • Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against Sudden Infant Death (SIDS), when done safely.
  • Mothers who sleep next to their breastfeeding infants tend to breastfeed more frequently throughout the night and for a longer duration of time.

What Can I Do to Reduce the Risks Associated with Bedsharing?

Here are the important NEVERs:

  • NEVER fall asleep when holding a baby while in a chair, sofa, or recliner.

  • NEVER share a bed with a baby if you smoke or vape or live in a home with someone who smokes or vapes.

  • NEVER share a bed with a baby if you or anyone else in the bed have been using alcohol, marijuana, sleeping pills or other medications or substances that cause drowsiness.

  • NEVER share a bed with a baby who is not directly breastfeeding.

  • NEVER share a bed with a baby who is preterm or low birth weight. (Talk to your infant’s physician or other provider if you or your baby has known medical problems, as some of these can make bedsharing riskier.)

  • A baby should NEVER sleep on their tummy, even when bedsharing.

  • NEVER leave a baby to sleep alone in a bed

If you have decided to bedshare, here are some additional precautions to make bedsharing safer:

  • The lactating parent and infant should be in a bed with a safe sleeping surface. A safe sleeping surface is one that:
    • Has a firm mattress
    • Has no pillows or blankets near baby
    • Has no soft bedding
    • Has no stuffed animals
    • Has no other adults, older siblings, or pets (newborns should only be in bed with the lactating parent and/or their partner and should be next to the lactating parent at the level of their breast)
    • Has no risk of the infant falling out of the bed or being caught between the bed and the wall or the bed and the headboard
  • If you are not planning on bedsharing but find yourself in a moment of unplanned bedsharing necessity, consider sleeping on a mat on the floor or carpeting as a safer alternative than falling asleep with your baby on a couch or chair.

Are There Safe Alternatives to Bedsharing that Support Lactation?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep in a crib or bassinet in the same room as you (“roomsharing”) for the first 6 months. This keeps your baby nearby while maintaining separate sleep surfaces for you both.

There are many sleep positioning and bedsharing devices on the market. Some are tested and approved, and some are not. You can go to the SaferProducts.gov website to learn more about product safety concerns.

Resources

Support IABLE

Make a Donation

Become a Member