Sleeping with your baby can sound like a great idea. It promotes bonding, is convenient for breastfeeding, and can help both mother and baby sleep better. However, there are numerous dangers associated with sharing a bed with your baby.

Here are ten reasons why you should never sleep with your baby.

Reason 1: Risk of Suffocation

Perhaps the most commonly cited danger of sleeping with your baby is the risk of suffocation. Infants can suffocate if they become trapped between soft bedding, pillows, or even the bed.

This risk is especially high for younger babies, who lack the muscle control to move themselves out of dangerous situations.

Reason 2: Risk of SIDS

Sharing a bed with your baby has also been linked to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, studies have found that sleeping with your baby is a risk factor that increases the likelihood of SIDS occurring.

Reason 3: Risk of Overheating

When you share a bed with your baby, both of your body temperatures can rise, leading to overheating. This can be dangerous for your baby, who can become dehydrated, experience heat exhaustion, or even suffer from heatstroke.

Reason 4: Risk of Falling

Sharing a bed with your baby also puts them at risk of falling off the bed. Even if you have side rails or barriers in place, babies can still find their way out and hurt themselves.

Falling from an elevated surface like a bed can cause serious injuries, including broken bones or head trauma.

Reason 5: Risk of Getting Trapped or Stuck

If your baby is particularly mobile or wriggly, they can get stuck or trapped in the bedding, between the bed and the wall, or even between you and your partner.

If this happens, your baby may not be able to breathe properly or move themselves to safety.

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Reason 6: Risk of Accidental Suffocation by Adults

It’s not just the baby who can suffer a suffocation hazard. Adults who share a bed with their baby can accidentally roll over onto the baby, smothering them in the process.

This can happen even if you’re a light sleeper and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Reason 7: Risk of Sleep Disruption for Baby

While some parents may assume that sharing a bed with their baby will help both of them sleep better, the opposite is often true. Babies shared-bed with adults tend to experience more disruptive sleep than those who sleep alone.

Adults snoring, moving, or waking up can all disturb the baby’s sleep and interrupt crucial REM cycles.

Reason 8: Risk of Separation Anxiety

Sharing a bed with your baby could cause them to become overly dependent on you for sleep. This can lead to separation anxiety and difficulties transitioning to sleeping alone later on.

Conversely, babies who learn to sleep alone tend to develop better sleep habits and self-soothing techniques.

Reason 9: Risk of Impaired Cognitive Development

Babies who share a bed with their parents may be at risk of impaired cognitive development.

This is because the sleep patterns of babies and adults are different, and babies who sleep alongside adults may not receive the restorative sleep they need to develop normally. Poor sleep quality has also been linked to increased risk of behavioral issues later on.

Finally, one of the biggest dangers of sleeping with your baby is the cultural bias towards bed sharing. Many parents may feel pressure to share a bed with their baby due to cultural or societal norms.

However, it’s essential to put your baby’s safety first and make the decision that’s right for your family, regardless of cultural expectations.