Risk of suffocation because of blankets, bedlinen, pillows etc

[Funkid]

Hello,

I have a now 5 months-old baby girl. I had previously kept reading that one should avoid blankets, bedlinen, pillows etc in the baby bed to prevent suffocation. I was very anxious on this at the start (our first child ), but since then I have loosened up. My baby is often in contact with such fluffy items, sometimes she sleeps between us in the bed, and I just don't see what could happen. But now she start to be more mobile. Yesterday she learned to turn herself from back to belly. So now the risk could be more serious. But I just don't really get it. Also, I've read that some experts actually advocate the baby to sleep in the parental bed, so they are very far from the anti-bedlinen precaution. Please what would be your advice on this ?

Many thanks !

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/reduce-the-risk-of-sudden-infant-death-syndrome/

Between you, one of you falls into a deep sleep, arm lays on the back of baby's head, you think it's you partner. Baby's head is pushed into the mattress, baby suffocates.

Please follow the safe sleep guidelines.

Having worked on several accidental suffocation cases prior to my own children, I would urge you to look at lullaby trust website urgently.

It is not an unlikely risk, it is a very real risk. Those who promote cosleep do so safely and by following the guidance. No covers. No pillows. Etc.

People who sleep with the baby move or remove pillows and have the duvet far down the bed with the baby in their own sleeping bag.
The safe cosleeping guidance doesn’t put the baby in the middle of the bed but on the side of the breastfeeding parent.

It’s much safer without duvets and pillows, so why would you risk it? They don’t need those things.

httpswww.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

I just don't see what could happen
A baby may not be able to move a pillow or blanket that is covering their mouth and nose, blocking their airway, & could suffocate.

In the cot bed, I would use a sleeping bag for the baby rather than any bedding or blanket. No pillow needed.
When baby sleeps in parents bed, we remove all pillows and use cellular blankets rather than duvets for ourselves.

In the cot bed we used to put pillow under the fitted sheet so baby couldn't get under it.

No pillows or duvets for under 12 months old is the guideline. It is safe to share a bed with your baby as long as you do follow the guidelines.

I followed the safe sleep guidance and coslept. I nearly killed my baby because I moved some things in my sleep. I was woken by her struggles in time to help her get air. If I’d rolled a little further away I wouldn’t have woken up and she’d be dead.

So I have no advice except be careful and trrat even the safe cosleep guidelines with great caution.

Hello all,
A big thank you for all your feedbacks . It all helps me a lot. Good day to all .

Baby must be on breastfeeding parent side, not really advised if not breastfeeding as breastfeeding changes your sleep status so your more alert to the baby. Duvet half way down bed, wear a cardi if cold.

Ideally your partner should sleep elsewhere so baby has plenty of space

I found a much safer compromise was to jam the cot right up beside my side of the bed with the inner drop side down. So it formed a sort of annexe to the bed. DD could then see and smell me with no bars in the way, but was safe in her own space snd nobody could roll on her or pull a duvet over her face in their sleep.