Evie Summers
Newborns sleep around the clock, waking every few hours to feed. The first months of a baby's life can be the hardest for parents, who might get up many times a night to tend to their baby. Every parent yearns for a peaceful night's sleep, but the comfort of having your newborn close by can be a tough bond to break. There are several reasons why having your baby sleep in your room may protect them from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in their parents' room for at least six months, but some experts say scientific evidence does not back up the guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Peace of mind for parents | Parents can easily monitor their newborn and attend to their needs |
| Reduced risk of SIDS | Sharing a room with a newborn can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by half |
| Easier breastfeeding | There's less distance to cover to reach the baby, which makes breastfeeding easier |
| Background noise | Background noise from parents can help prevent the baby from falling into too deep a sleep, which is thought to be a cause of SIDS |
| Sleep deprivation | Newborns wake up every couple of hours to eat, which can cause sleep deprivation for parents |
| Separation anxiety | Separation anxiety peaks at around 1 year old, making it impractical for parents to send their children to their own room at this age |
| Sleep patterns | Newborns don't have a sense of day and night, sleeping around the clock |
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What You'll Learn
Peace of mind for parents
The arrival of a newborn baby is a momentous occasion for any family, and it can be an anxious time for new parents. One of the most important considerations for parents is the sleeping arrangements for their baby. Many parents seek peace of mind by having their newborn sleep in the same room as them. This practice is known as room-sharing or co-sleeping.
Room-sharing with a newborn can provide several benefits that contribute to a parent's peace of mind. Firstly, it allows parents to easily monitor and attend to their baby's needs. Newborns require frequent feedings and care, and having them nearby makes it more convenient for parents to respond promptly to their baby's cries or hunger cues. This proximity can be especially reassuring for first-time parents who are still learning to recognize their baby's needs.
Additionally, room-sharing can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is a significant concern for parents, and room-sharing allows parents to more easily observe their baby's sleeping position and breathing. According to experts, room-sharing can lower the risk of SIDS by half compared to other sleeping arrangements. Background noise from the parents' movements can also help prevent babies from falling into too deep a sleep, which is believed to be a contributing factor to SIDS.
While room-sharing can provide peace of mind, it is important to distinguish it from bed-sharing. Bed-sharing, where the baby sleeps in the same bed as the parents, is not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) due to safety concerns. Instead, the AAP advises that babies should sleep in the same room as their parents but in their own crib, bassinet, or pack and play. This arrangement provides the benefits of proximity while reducing potential hazards, such as the risk of rolling over onto the baby or suffocation from soft bedding.
The recommended duration for room-sharing varies, with some sources suggesting at least six months, while others recommend up to a year. However, it is important to note that room-sharing may not work for all families, and some parents may find that it disrupts their sleep or strains their relationship. Ultimately, parents should make informed decisions based on their baby's needs, their family dynamics, and expert recommendations to ensure the safety and well-being of their newborn.
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Reduced risk of SIDS
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months, and ideally for a year. This is because studies have shown that room-sharing can help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a leading cause of infant mortality, with approximately 3,700 infants dying from sleep-related causes in 2015, including 1,600 from SIDS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SIDS has no known cause but typically occurs in sleeping babies between 1 and 4 months old.
There are several ways in which room-sharing can help reduce the risk of SIDS. Firstly, the mere act of waking up and being aware of their surroundings that comes with room-sharing may be protective against SIDS for babies. Additionally, room-sharing makes it easier for breastfeeding mothers to feed their babies, which is important because breastfed babies tend to eat more frequently than formula-fed babies as breast milk is digested more quickly. This is significant because newborns need to be awakened to feed every 3-4 hours until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
Furthermore, research has shown that putting babies to bed with a pacifier reduces the risk of SIDS by up to 90%. However, it is important to note that the baby should not be forced to take one if they don't like it, and it is also not necessary to put a pacifier back in the baby's mouth if it falls out during sleep. The protective effect was found to continue even if the pacifier fell out.
It is also important to consider other factors that can increase the risk of SIDS. Overheating can increase the risk, so it is important to keep the room at a comfortable temperature and ensure that the baby is not too hot. Secondhand smoke is another major risk factor, so it is crucial to keep the baby away from smokers and avoid smoking around them or in the same room.
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Easier breastfeeding
Newborns sleep a lot, but only for a few hours at a time. They wake up every couple of hours to feed, and breastfed babies may feed even more frequently than their bottle-fed counterparts. This means that new mothers may have to wake up several times in the night to breastfeed their babies. Having the baby sleep in the same room as the parents can make this process much easier, as the mother does not have to walk to a different room and can quickly fall back asleep after feeding the baby.
Co-sleeping, or room-sharing, can also help with breastfeeding and make it easier to respond to babies during the night. It can also be good for bonding with the baby. However, it is important to note that co-sleeping can, in some circumstances, be associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleep accidents. If you are planning to co-sleep, there are ways to reduce risks and make co-sleeping safer. For example, always place your baby on their back to sleep, not on their stomach or side. Avoid placing your baby between parents or next to other children or pets, as this reduces the chance of people, pets, or bedding items covering your baby's head and face.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, some experts say that scientific evidence does not back up these guidelines. According to a study, babies who sleep in their own rooms after four months slept for longer stretches at night.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to have a newborn sleep in their parents' room is a personal one, and there are valid arguments for both options. Some parents may prioritize the ease of breastfeeding and the comfort of having their baby nearby, while others may prioritize the potential for longer stretches of sleep for both themselves and their baby.
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Background noise can be helpful
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, some experts argue that scientific evidence does not support this guideline, and that babies over four months old get less sleep at night and sleep for shorter stretches when they share a room with their parents.
Regardless of where a newborn sleeps, getting them to sleep can be challenging. Establishing a routine can make a significant difference, and soothing background noise can be helpful in this regard. Newborns are accustomed to background noise from the womb, such as the beating of the mother's heart and the air moving through her lungs. A low hum or white noise can be comforting and help newborns fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. White noise can also block out sudden noises and help adults sleep better as well.
However, it is important to note that not all babies respond well to white noise, and there are potential risks associated with its use. White noise machines designed for infants have been found to exceed recommended noise limits, which may damage infant hearing and auditory development. If you choose to use a white noise machine, it should be placed at a safe distance from the baby's crib and kept at a low volume to protect their hearing.
Additionally, babies may become dependent on white noise to fall asleep, and it is not always a practical or consistently available solution. Other methods to soothe a crying baby include swaddling, rocking, and singing.
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Safe sleep tactics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months, and ideally for a year. This is to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, some experts say that scientific evidence does not back up these guidelines, and that babies over four months old get less sleep at night and sleep for shorter stretches when they sleep in their parents' room.
- Always place your baby on their back when putting them down for a nap or bedtime.
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet.
- The crib should be empty with no bumper pads, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, or supplies.
- Dress your baby for the room temperature and don't overbundle. Don't cover your baby's head while they're sleeping.
- Keep your baby away from smokers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
- Offer a pacifier to your baby at sleep time, but don't force it. If the pacifier falls out during sleep, you don't have to replace it.
- Avoid hazards such as items with cords, ties, or ribbons that can wrap around a baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or corner.
- Use a sleep sack or wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
- Babies should not sleep on adult beds, couches, armchairs, or other soft sleep surfaces.
- Babies should not sleep in car seats or swings, as they may not be able to keep their airway open. If they fall asleep in a car seat or swing, move them to a safe sleep place.
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Frequently asked questions
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep in their parents' room for at least six months, and ideally for a year. This is because room-sharing is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
It can be comforting for parents, especially first-timers, to have their newborn close by. It also makes it easier to attend to their needs, including breastfeeding, which has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Some parents find that having their infant in the bedroom can strain their relationship, as the bedroom becomes a place where it's paramount to be quiet so as not to wake the baby. It can also be disruptive to the sleep of the parents, who may wake up at every little sound the baby makes.
The AAP recommends room-sharing for at least six months, but ideally a full year. However, some parents' bedrooms may only fit a bassinet, which babies typically outgrow by month four, five, or six. One study showed that 9-month-olds sleeping in their parents' room got 40 minutes less sleep overnight than those in separate rooms.
You can take incremental steps, moving your baby's crib closer to the door of their room until they are eventually in their own room.
