We co-sleep.  For as long as I can remember, we have had a kiddo in the bed with us.  At times, we have two kids in bed with us – one being an infant.

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I was extremely offended by the anti-co-sleeping (bed sharing), or fear mongering, ads that City of Milwaukee Health Department started circulating recently.  Sure, I get it.  Co-sleeping isn’t for everyone, but neither is crib sleeping.

Last night, in my bed, was a prime example of how co-sleeping could have possibly saved my baby’s life.

Jett started wiggling around, and usually when he does this, I just roll over and lend a boob, feed him, and roll back over to go to sleep.  Everyone is happy and rested.  This time, I noticed he was gagging and could not catch his breath.  He coughed, and some pretty sticky, icky saliva mixed with a bit of thicker mucus shot out of his mouth and covered his nose.  At this point, he was chocking on mucus and his nose was obstructed.  He could not breathe.

Because I was right there beside him, I was able to quickly wipe off his nose, and sit him upright to clear his throat.  It took him a second, but he started breathing again.

Could he have suffocated at that very moment.  Maybe, maybe not.

If he had, would it have been because we co-sleep?  Absolutely not.

Did I potentially save his life because we co sleep?  Absolutely.

Had he been sleeping in a crib, could he have died?  Maybe, maybe not.

Just as parents who do not co-sleep take every precaution to keep their babies safe in their crib, we take precautions to keep ours safe in our bed.

We do not drink alcohol.  We do not smoke.  We do not do drugs.  We do not pile blankets and pillows on the bed that we share with our baby.  We chose to co-sleep as safely as possible.  We get a great night’s sleep.  Jett gets a great night’s sleep.

My point is that there are pros and cons to every sleeping situation there is when it comes to your children.  No one wrote a manual for parenting.  We do what we feel is best for our little ones, and we go about it as safely as possible.

I would never judge parents for doing what they feel is best for their babies and family.

I hope that with publicizing these anti-co-sleeping ads and receiving much factual feedback,  the City of Milwaukee Health Department realizes that there are dangers in all situations, and in no way is co-sleeping with your baby the same as putting a knife next to the sweet little one while he or she is sleeping.

Co-sleeping can be as safe as you make it.

Here are some tips for safe co-sleeping from and article on Parenthood.

  • Infants should sleep on their backs on firm, clean surfaces, in the absence of smoke, under light, comfortable blanketing, and their heads should never be covered.
  • The bed should not have any stuffed animals or pillows around the infant and an infant should never be placed to sleep on top of a pillow.
  • Infants should never sleep on couches or sofas, with or without adults, because they can slip down into the crevice or get wedged against the back of a couch. They also should not sleep on beanbags or waterbeds.
  • Avoid crevices between mattress and wall or mattress and side rail. Avoid side rails, headboards and footboards that have slats that could entrap your baby’s head.
  • Infants 1 year old or younger should not sleep with other children.
  • Parents on sedatives, medications, drugs or who have consumed alcohol or those who are excessively unable to arouse because of sleep disorders should not co-sleep on the same surface with the infant. This is also true if your partner has or takes no responsibility for the baby.
  • Mothers with excessively long hair should tie it up to prevent infant entanglement around the infant’s neck.
  • Extremely obese persons, who may not feel where exactly or how close their infant is, may wish to have the infant sleep alongside but on a different surface.
  • Avoid putting your bed near curtains or blinds that have dangling strings that could strangle your baby.

Educate yourself on safe co-sleeping, and rest easy with your baby by your side.