The majority of reputable medical organisations agree that babies should room-share with their parents for the first 6 to 12 months as it has been found to reduce the risk of SIDS. They also agree that babies are safest sleeping on their backs, in a clear sleep space free of pillows, blankets and other potential suffocation hazards.But there is much discrepancy about whether parents should be advised against sharing their beds or the same sleep surface with their baby as well.
It is vital that safe sleep practices are used for premature and low birth weight babies as both of these have been linked to an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To reduce this possibility, you should place your baby on a firm and flat mattress on their back for every sleep. It is also recommended that you share the same room as your baby for at least the first 6 months.
The focus of safe sleep for toddlers shifts away from preventing SIDS to rather creating a safe sleeping environment to prevent accidents such as falling. A safe sleeping environment for a toddler is one where they should not be able to climb out of their cot, fall off their bed or become entangled by any cords
Safe sleep for twins or multiples follows the same guidelines which are set out for single babies. This means that they should be placed alone on their back on a firm and flat mattress in a bare cot and ideally share the same room as you for at least the first six months.
With so many well marketed products, choosing between a cot, camp cot, co-sleeper, bassinet and Moses basket can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of the safest option. Each of these baby sleepers offers something different from stability to portability and convenience as well as accommodating a range of ages and weights. Knowing what each one has to offer and how safe it is to use can help make your decision easier.
