Sleeping close to your baby—through co-sleeping or bed sharing—is biologically normal and can provide comfort, support nighttime feedings, and help everyone get more rest. While concerns about risks like SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and suffocation are valid, research shows that with thoughtful planning, sharing a sleep space can be safe and nurturing for both you and your baby. For breastfeeding mothers, understanding your baby’s nighttime needs and creating a safe sleeping arrangement can make the early months more manageable.

It's important to mention that even if co-sleeping isn’t part of your plan, many new parents—exhausted by sleep deprivation—occasionally fall asleep with their babies. When this happens in less safe places like sofas or recliners, it's especially dangerous. To reduce these risks, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and other health care providers emphasize that all parents should create a safe sleep environment—whether co-sleeping is planned or not.

Why Co-Sleeping Can Be Protective

Sleeping close to your baby isn’t just comforting, it's also protective of their safety and supportive of your breastfeeding relationship. Breastsleeping is a term coined by anthropologist Dr. James McKenna to describe the unique response that breastfeeding mothers and babies have to one another when sleeping in close proximity and breastfeeding at night. He calls co-sleeping with breastfeeding "humankind’s oldest and most successful sleeping arrangement."

Protective Benefits for Baby

  • Shared Sleep Cycles: When you sleep close to your baby, your natural sleep rhythms begin to align. You are more likely to wake gently when your baby stirs, making nighttime feedings feel less disruptive. This allows you to respond to your baby’s hunger cues quickly and makes it easier to fall asleep afterward.
  • Instinctive Protective Postures: Mothers naturally adopt positions that keep babies safe, such as curling around them, keeping an arm above their head, and tucking knees under their feet to prevent sliding or rolling.
  • Gentle Monitoring: Being nearby lets you notice subtle movements or breathing changes, providing reassurance and an extra layer of protection.
  • Regulation of Breathing and Temperature: Close contact helps babies maintain steady breathing and body warmth, reducing stress and supporting safety.
  • Supports Healthy Sleep Patterns: Babies who co-sleep often have shorter, lighter sleep cycles, which is linked to a lower risk of SIDS and supports normal development.

Benefits for Breastfeeding and Bonding

  • More Frequent Feeding: Babies who sleep near their mothers feed more often, which supports a healthy milk production—especially critical in the first weeks.
  • Longer Breastfeeding Duration: Mothers who co-sleep tend to breastfeed for longer overall compared to mothers who sleep apart from their babies.
  • Easier Nighttime Feeding: Breastfeeding in bed is often more intuitive and less disruptive, saving time and energy.
  • Emotional Bonding: Physical closeness fosters trust, attachment, and emotional security, helping your baby feel safe and helping you feel confident and connected.
  • More Rest for You: Mothers who co-sleep often report getting more total sleep than those who sleep separately, despite more frequent wakings.

Safe Co-Sleeping Guidelines

By following safe sleep practices, you can nurture your baby’s natural feeding rhythms and attachment needs while keeping them protected. To enjoy the benefits of co-sleeping safely, follow these essential guidelines:

No Smoking 

Smoking is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for SIDS. Whether during pregnancy or after birth, exposure to smoke—even outside the home—can increase your baby’s risk. Keep your home and car smoke-free to protect your baby’s health and safety.

Breastfeeding Day and Night 

Breastfeeding is highly protective against SIDS and also supports your baby’s immune system. Studies show that breastfeeding for just two months can reduce your baby’s SIDS risk by up to 50%. Breast milk contains antibodies and immune factors that help protect your baby from illnesses such as respiratory infections, ear infections, and gastrointestinal upset.

If you are pumping and bottle-feeding or using formula, the safest option is room sharing —keeping your baby close in their own crib or bassinet. This allows you to respond quickly to your baby’s needs, enjoy nighttime bonding, and foster a sense of security, while ensuring your baby's safety.

Back to Sleep

After breastfeeding, always place your baby on their back on a firm, flat mattress. This is the safest infant sleep position and significantly reduces the risk of SIDS. Side-lying positions are natural and protective during breastfeeding, but back-sleeping should be standard whenever your baby is not actively feeding.

No Alcohol or Sedating Medication 

Avoid substances that increase sleepiness, such as alcohol, sleep aids, or certain pain or allergy medications. These can make it harder to respond safely to your baby and impair your alertness and ability to respond to your baby at night.

Avoid Overheating

Dress your baby in layers similar to your own—not too hot or too cold. Never swaddle your baby while co-sleeping. If your baby sleeps in a crib or bassinet, stop swaddling once they begin to show signs of rolling over, often around 2 months.

Healthy Full-term Baby 

Preterm infants and babies with serious medical conditions may be at higher risk for SIDS and SUIDS (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death). For these babies, a separate sleep surface at the side of the bed, such as a bassinet, may be safest.

Create a Safe Sleeping Surface

  • Use a flat, firm mattress to prevent your baby from sinking into soft spots.
  • Remove gaps between the mattress and walls; position yourself between any gaps and your baby if needed.
  • Avoid soft bedding and keep pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and sleep positioners out of the baby’s crib or bassinet to decrease the risk of suffocation.

Additional Safe Sleep Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics 2022 Safe Sleep Guidelines include the following recommendations:

  • Avoid Couches and Recliners: Couches and recliners are especially hazardous for sleeping infants. Soft cushions, crevices, and uneven surfaces can trap a baby and create an increased risk of suffocation. Even short naps in these places should be avoided.
  • Consider a Bedside Bassinet: A bedside bassinet allows your baby to be close to you without fully sharing your bed. This makes nighttime feedings easier and ensures you can respond quickly if your baby needs comfort or care.
  • Safety Comes First: If your baby sleeps alone, the safest surface is a firm crib or bassinet, never an adult bed. These surfaces meet recommended guidelines for infant positioning and reduce the risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation.
  • Limit Time in Car Seats, Swings, and Strollers: Infants should not routinely sleep for long periods in car seats, swings, or strollers. These positions do not meet safe infant sleep guidelines and may increase the risk of breathing difficulties or positional hazards.
  • Room-Sharing Without Bedsharing: The AAP recommends that infants sleep in the parents’ room, but on a separate, safe surface (crib or bassinet), ideally for at least the first 6 months, and preferably up to 12 months. This keeps your baby close for monitoring and comfort while reducing SIDS risk. Sleeping in their own room can wait until your baby is older, once independent sleep patterns are established.

When Co-Sleeping Isn’t Right for You

Not every family’s situation is the same, and that’s perfectly okay. The best choice is the one that fits your family’s needs, comfort, and circumstances. Co-sleeping is just one of many ways to nurture closeness and support breastfeeding and bonding. Your attentiveness and loving care are what matter most. Choosing a sleep arrangement that feels right for you, your baby, and your family is a reflection of your commitment to keeping them safe and loved. Whatever approach you take, you are building a foundation of trust and connection that will last long after your breastfeeding journey.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.