There is nothing more exciting than knowing you are going to become a parent. As the due date approaches, there will always be a list of things the expecting parents need to do, such as buying clothes, diapers, bottles, and many more.

One of the most important things that expecting parents need to decide on is where their newborn baby will sleep. The American Pediatric Academy recommends parents to share a room with their newborns for at least six months to a year. In this post, we will explore the reasons behind this recommendation and the benefits it offers.

What is the American Pediatric Academy?

The American Pediatric Academy is an organization of pediatricians that is committed to providing guidance and support to parents and physicians to help promote the health and well-being of all children.

The organization is dedicated to the health of infants, children, and adolescents, and seeks to improve the overall health of children in the United States.

According to the AAP, sharing a room with a newborn can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby less than one year of age.

While the cause of SIDS is still unknown, studies have shown that sharing a room with a newborn can help reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%. This is because when parents share a room with their newborn, they are often more aware of their baby’s breathing pattern and any changes, making it easier to detect and respond to any potential issues.

Additionally, the AAP recommends that parents should avoid bed-sharing with their babies, as this can increase the risk of SIDS. Instead, parents should try to place their newborns in a crib or bassinet in their room for at least the first six months to a year of their life.

Aside from reducing the risk of SIDS, sharing a room with a newborn offers other benefits. One of the main benefits is that it makes nighttime feedings and diaper changes more convenient for parents.

Newborns require frequent feedings, often every two to three hours. Having the baby in the same room can make these middle-of-the-night feedings less stressful and more convenient for parents. Additionally, being in the same room as the baby can help parents develop a stronger bond with their newborn.

They can learn to recognize their baby’s different cries and vocalizations, and this can help them respond to their baby’s needs more effectively.

How to Make Sure Your Baby is Sleeping Safely

While sharing a room with a newborn has benefits, it is important to make sure that the baby is sleeping safely. Here are some tips to help ensure that your baby is sleeping safely:.

Use a firm, flat sleep surface, such as a crib or bassinet, and never place your baby to sleep on soft surfaces, such as a couch or armchair.
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, for every sleep, including naps.
Ensure that the crib or bassinet is free of soft objects, such as blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals, as these can pose a suffocation hazard.
Consider using a wearable blanket or other types of sleep clothing instead of blankets to keep your baby warm.
Make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold, and keep the baby’s face and head uncovered during sleep.

The Bottom Line

Sharing a room with a newborn for at least the first six months to a year of their life is a recommendation made by the American Pediatric Academy, and there are good reasons why.

Not only does it reduce the risk of SIDS, but it also offers other benefits like making nighttime feedings and diaper changes more convenient and helping parents bond with their newborn. If you are an expecting parent, be sure to consider this recommendation when deciding where your newborn will sleep.