Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

NHS now say you can cosleep safely.

316 replies

Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:17

The never sleep with your baby has now been removed and updated to be safe if you share your bed with your baby.

Isn't that awesome 👏 😊

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:41

geraniumsrojo · 11/03/2023 14:37

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

"Be safe if you share a bed with your baby

If you share a bed with your baby (co-sleeping), you should:

make sure they sleep on a firm, flat mattress lying on their back
not have any pillows or duvets near them
not have other children or pets in the bed at the same time

It's important not to share a bed with your baby if they had a low birthweight (less than 2.5kg or 5.5lb) or if you or your partner:

smoke (no matter where or when you smoke and even if you never smoke in bed)
have had 2 or more units of alcohol
have taken recreational drugs
have taken medicine that causes drowsiness"

Sounds like it's been updated.

NHS now say you can cosleep safely.
OP posts:
OutofControl3 · 11/03/2023 14:42

Nhs is a midwife right? Well I had my 1st 11 years ago and my 4th 8 weeks ago and always before I leave hospital they go through safe sleeping with a newborn but my health visitor always says make sure you put baby to sleep in moses basket I just nod.

Igmum · 11/03/2023 14:42

I did this with DD16 and the health visitor gave me this advice then - in a much thumbed pamphlet that she let me read but kept herself Grin. Baby snuggles are gorgeous.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Babies & sleep Children's sleep Families General parenting
Igmum · 11/03/2023 14:43

Oh and yes to the starfish 😂

Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:43

MintJulia · 11/03/2023 14:41

That's a relief. I co-slept with DS for years, without issue.

I'm a light sleeper, don't drink alcohol, and we shared a 1 bed flat until I could buy a house. Apart from his tendency to 'starfish' there was never a problem.

It's astonishing how much space a 2yo can take up 😁

Isn't it. I'm a heavy sleeper but when baba is in bed with me I'm not. Haha I can imagine 😅 my baba is only 11 months. I don't mind him coming in my bed as he gets older but not all the time!

OP posts:
Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:44

Igmum · 11/03/2023 14:42

I did this with DD16 and the health visitor gave me this advice then - in a much thumbed pamphlet that she let me read but kept herself Grin. Baby snuggles are gorgeous.

Baby snuggles are the best

OP posts:
AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 14:44

It was always safe. Humans have been sleeping with their babies since the dawn of time. So it’s great the nhs are now encouraging it especially for new mums who may believe putting their baby in a cot is safer when it’s actually more damaging and creates abandonment

I attempted to co sleep with my breast fed baby. I ended up practically smothering her twice by rolling almost on top of her. If my DH hadn't checked on us I'm sure my DD would be dead.

Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:45

AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 14:44

It was always safe. Humans have been sleeping with their babies since the dawn of time. So it’s great the nhs are now encouraging it especially for new mums who may believe putting their baby in a cot is safer when it’s actually more damaging and creates abandonment

I attempted to co sleep with my breast fed baby. I ended up practically smothering her twice by rolling almost on top of her. If my DH hadn't checked on us I'm sure my DD would be dead.

I never move when my sons next to me. Stay in the same place all night.

OP posts:
Cotswoldmama · 11/03/2023 14:47

I don't realise there was 'never sleep with your baby' guidance. My second slept with me every night until he slept through at about a year old. Even in hospital after he was born, the midwife when she saw actually praised me for doing it! That was 7 years ago!

geraniumsrojo · 11/03/2023 14:47

@Emmamoo89 Yes. That is what my post says. I was providing a link to the new NHS advice, with a quote giving the relevant paragraph. For those who want to know what the NHS actually says, rather than speculate on what they think it should say.

Masterofcats · 11/03/2023 14:48

They don't recommend it they advice doing it safely. As have most health visitors have for ages. I think they even have guidelines on lullaby trust. They will never encourage it due to an increased risk.
it is not safe for everyone and downright dangerous if you smoke, take medication are unwell or simply don't follow the advice on how to do it safely. laying on a baby is a criminal offence ie if you smoother your baby boy rolling onto them.
It will also not be encouraged on maternity wards with exhausted post natal mother's in hospital beds as will be down right dangerous.
But if you are breast feeding not smoking and following the advice it's fine.

AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 14:50

I never move when my sons next to me. Stay in the same place all night

I'm glad you've not had the experience of almost killing your baby due to co sleeping. Come of us have though and we realise cosleeping is not as safe as some like to make out.

TomAllenWife · 11/03/2023 14:50

Health visitors in wales have been giving co sleeping advice for years

The information is provided by the lullaby trust it's not new

The safest space for your baby is a clear, flat, separate space but there are ways to safely co sleep

Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:51

AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 14:50

I never move when my sons next to me. Stay in the same place all night

I'm glad you've not had the experience of almost killing your baby due to co sleeping. Come of us have though and we realise cosleeping is not as safe as some like to make out.

I'm sorry it happened to you. But for some it doesn't. I say only do it if you feel safe to do so

OP posts:
Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:52

TomAllenWife · 11/03/2023 14:50

Health visitors in wales have been giving co sleeping advice for years

The information is provided by the lullaby trust it's not new

The safest space for your baby is a clear, flat, separate space but there are ways to safely co sleep

I know the lullaby trust isn't new. The NHS posted this yesterday.

OP posts:
Rockbird · 11/03/2023 14:53

Co-slept with both of mine, one from 3 months and the other from birth. I formula fed, shock horror! I didn't realise I wasn't entitled to co-sleep but what the hell, I did it anyway. Luckily not breastfeeding didn't take away my capacity for reading guidelines and making sensible decisions about the safest way to do it.

avocadotofu · 11/03/2023 14:54

That's great news!

gogohmm · 11/03/2023 14:55

It's this sort of changing their minds that discredits advice. When mine were small it was considered potentially safer to cosleep because they regulated their breathing to yours or some variation on that. Coslept with both of mine with exh in standard bed too. They hadn't invented next to me crib attachable ones

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 11/03/2023 14:57

Whenyouknowbetteryoudobetter · 11/03/2023 14:35

It was always safe. Humans have been sleeping with their babies since the dawn of time. So it’s great the nhs are now encouraging it especially for new mums who may believe putting their baby in a cot is safer when it’s actually more damaging and creates abandonment.

"More damaging and creates abandonment"?

Have a word with yourself.

Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 14:57

avocadotofu · 11/03/2023 14:54

That's great news!

Isn't it 😁

OP posts:
OutofControl3 · 11/03/2023 15:00

@Emmamoo89 totally agree! Iv always woke up in same position too, I remember with my 1st I had someone come round from a nhs breastfeeding help shown me that exact position done it with all 4 now. My baby is quite content and when wake in the night I wake up ASAP done even get to the crying for milk stage. Il get ready for everyone to throw buns at me now 😅

Barannca · 11/03/2023 15:00

That is very good news. People have done it very safely since the first babies were born! It is natural and when done properly perfectly safe. And for some mother's it's the only way they and their baby actually get any sleep

MeinKraft · 11/03/2023 15:03

Whenyouknowbetteryoudobetter · 11/03/2023 14:35

It was always safe. Humans have been sleeping with their babies since the dawn of time. So it’s great the nhs are now encouraging it especially for new mums who may believe putting their baby in a cot is safer when it’s actually more damaging and creates abandonment.

Oh dear lol. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 15:04

It is natural and when done properly perfectly safe

It isn't perfectly safe. There is always a risk of smothering, even if it's only a small risk.

Original poster
Emmamoo89 · 11/03/2023 15:06

AndTheSurveySays · 11/03/2023 15:04

It is natural and when done properly perfectly safe

It isn't perfectly safe. There is always a risk of smothering, even if it's only a small risk.

Yes small if done properly. Some mams have no choice

OP posts: