After hearing horror stories of children being suffocated while co-­sleeping, many parents, concerned about the safety risks that bed­-sharing entails, wrongly believe that bed-­sharing is dangerous. Thankfully, the truth is that bed-­sharing can be just as safe - if not more safe - than putting baby in his or her own crib to sleep, provided that certain conditions are met.

The problem with many of the studies that have been done on bed­-sharing is that they didn't take all of the factors into account. There is a huge difference between a family who intentionally and attentively sleeps with baby in the bed out of concern for baby's well­-being or a desire to bond and a mother who accidentally falls asleep with baby on the couch or who brings baby into her own bed simply because she cannot afford to purchase a crib.

For parents who want to share a bed with their babies and who are aware of the guidelines and risks, co-­sleeping can be a safe choice. Here are a few of the guidelines that must be followed in order for co­-sleeping to be considered safe.

• Both parents must be non-­smokers, light sleepers, of a healthy weight and not taking any medications, drugs or alcohol.
• Baby should sleep in between the mother and a mesh guardrail only - not next to the father, other siblings or pets who don't have the same instincts mothers do.
• The bed should not have any loose or thick blankets which could find themselves near baby's face.
• There should be no cracks or crevices where baby could get stuck.
• The mattress must be large, flat and smooth - no pillow­-top mattresses, waterbeds,couches or armchairs.
• Avoid pajamas with strings or ribbons, which pose a suffocation risk. If the mother has long hair, she should tie it back with a hair tie.
• It is recommended that the mother breastfeeds.
• The baby should lie on his or her side or back - never on his or her stomach.

If you have your heart set on co-­sleeping and you are able and determined to follow all of the safety guidelines, rest assured that co-­sleeping can be a safe and wonderful choice for your family. Families all over the world bond in a family bed every night; yours can too!