Safety Commission have put out medical alerts warning parents of the
death risk associated with co-sleeping with an infant. The seven year
study tracked the deaths of over 500 infants due to parental overlay and
co-sleeping with infants. The AAP public policy statements of 1997
reads, “...There is no scientific studies demonstrating that bed sharing
reduces SIDS.” Conversely, there are studies suggesting that bed sharing,
under certain conditions, may actually increase the risk of SIDS.”^4 In
2005 the AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome labeled
shared sleep with infants as a “highly” controversial topic calling the
practice of bedsharing “hazardous.”^5 See chapter 12 for an expanded
discussion on the dangers of shared sleep. Emotionally, it may create a
state of abnormal dependency on the sleep prop to the point where the
child actually fears falling asleep when transitioned to his or her own bed.
As the child moves into toddlerhood, that fear is expressed through the
need for mom or dad to lie down with the child at naptime until sleep is
achieved. This not only robs parents of healthy sleep, the child also
misses out on good rest.
The most serious sleep problems we’ve encountered are associated
with parents who sleep with their babies. Researchers at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School say co-sleeping may “prevent, rather than
ensure, a good night’s sleep.” They studied 303 parents and their sleeping
patterns. Families where co-sleeping occurred were more likely to have
sleep problems with their children including night walking and difficulty
falling asleep. High levels of sleeping problems remained with frequent
co-sleeping families one year after the initial interview, suggesting that
early co-sleeping fosters long term problems. Not only do children
encounter long term sleep disruptions, but frequently the husband
removes himself from the bed so he can get a good night’s sleep.^6
Why choose a prop? Instead, confidently establish a basic routine to
naturally and beautifully enhance restful sleep. Put your baby to bed
while both of you are still awake. In this way, baby will establish longer
and stronger sleep cycles than if placed in the crib already asleep.
Besides, none of the sleep props listed above offer any healthy