Guest Blog from Vicki – Wakefield Mumbler
Safer Sleep Week is an annual national campaign, taking place 13th-19th March 2023. I am so happy to see this years #safersleepweek is focusing on co-sleeping!! Sadly, 3 babies die every week from SIDS and unsafe co-sleeping is certainly a factor.
A recent report from the National Child Mortality Database highlighted that many babies die in hazardous co-sleeping situations, the majority of which are unplanned. So, it’s vital that every new and expectant parent knows the advice on how to co-sleep more safely, regardless of how they plan to sleep. This will allow parents to prepare a safer space for planned co-sleeping, or if they fall asleep without intending to [The Lullaby Trust, 2023]
I have co-slept with both my children on and off from around 4 weeks. The eldest one still pops in now and then for a snuggle in the night, and our 2 year old will join us if she wakes during the night (still happens pretty often!)
I started with a bedside crib and then ended up co-sleeping and moving into the spare bed as my husband likes to have the odd cigarette and glass of wine of an evening.
I did the change in the middle of one night when I was shattered! I remember going back to a document my NCT antenatal teacher had sent us and I had on my phone. It was really useful to have something I could check out and remind myself of what to do and not to do.
I remember that there was not much other information out there or if there was people had very strong opinions on the subject!
I also remember hiding the fact from my health visitor that I was co-sleeping as I couldn’t be bothered with the lecture that it wasn’t safe!
The thing that worried me the most about co-sleeping was the duvet and it getting onto Mini Mumbler so I invested in some thick PJs and a thick cardigan and ditched the duvet!
The above was with our first born 7 years ago. 2nd time round I was more prepared, informed and had confidence in the choices I was making from the start. I let my health visitor know what we were planning to do and she ensured I had access and was informed of the way to co-sleep safely.
I love that this campaign is focusing on safer co-sleeping and it will help so many families have access to information to enable them to make their own informed decision on this subject and reduce hazardous co-sleeping situations!!
Information from The Lullaby Trust
How to co-sleep more safely
Although the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a clear, flat, separate sleep space (e.g. cot or Moses basket), many families will co-sleep with their baby at some point.
Even if a family doesn’t intend to co-sleep, they need to know how to prepare their bed in case they do.
Take a look at @lullabytrust’s step-by-step guide to preparing your bed for co-sleeping more safely:
🛏️ Firm, flat mattress
🛏️ Make sure baby can’t get trapped, wedged or fall out
🛏️ Never leave baby unattended in adult bed
🛏 Do not let additional children / pets in
🛏️ Keep pillows and adult bedding away from your baby
🛏 Follow all other safer sleep advice, such as sleeping baby on their back
Sofa Sharing
Sleeping on a sofa or armchair with your baby can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times. Babies are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.
It’s fine to have a cuddle on the sofa with your baby but if you feel sleepy, get up and pop your baby in their cot or Moses basket
Hazardous co-sleeping
Co-sleeping is especially dangerous in certain situations and @lullabytrust advises that you never co-sleep if any of these apply:
Useful Links from The Lullaby Trust
Co-sleeping advice
Safer sleep advice
Safer Sleep Week 2023
Thanks so much to our guest blogger Vicki. If you have family or friends in Wakefield be sure to let them know about the Wakefield Mumbler site.
