Breastfeeding and co-sleeping

Co-sleeping – when a parent or caregiver shares a sleep surface with their baby – is more common than you might think. In fact, about 75% of Australian babies spend some time co-sleeping in their first 3 to 6 months.^1,2

Many parents find that bringing their baby into bed at night makes feeding and caring easier and helps everyone get more rest.³

It’s recommended that babies sleep in their own sleep space, like a cot or bassinet, next to your bed for the first 6 to 12 months.⁴ Still, many families choose to share a bed or sometimes have no other option.^1,2 

It’s not just sharing a bed that’s risky. Other factors can make co-sleeping unsafe and increase the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).^5,6 So what’s important is understanding how to make co-sleeping as safe as possible. 

Babies need to be fed during the night and many new mums fall asleep while feeding their baby. Co-sleeping helps to minimise disruption to sleep for both mum and baby.⁷ Breastfeeding and co-sleeping often go hand in hand. Feeding at night is easier when your baby is close, and many mums find their breastfeeding journey continues for longer when they co-sleep.⁸

Breastfeeding has a protective effect against sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUDI)

There are several theories as to why breastfeeding helps protect babies from SUDI:

• Breastfed babies are more easily woken up than formula-fed babies at 2 to 3 months of age, which is the age when SUDI occurs most often.¹⁰
• Breastfeeding provides important immune factors like antibodies and white blood cells, which may help protect babies.¹¹
• Fewer infections: Some babies who die suddenly and unexpectedly have had a minor infection in the days before, but it wasn’t considered enough to cause death on its own. Breastfed babies tend to have fewer infections than formula-fed babies.¹¹

How breastfeeding mums co-sleep safely

You might feel unsure about co-sleeping with your baby. However, research shows that breastfeeding mums who co-sleep often do things that naturally help keep their baby close and safe:

• The breastfeeding mum usually forms a protective “C” shape around their baby. She keeps her baby at the level of her breast with an arm between her baby's head and the pillow.
• She instinctively bends her legs, creating a protective space around the baby. This makes it almost impossible for someone else to roll onto the baby without first touching her legs.¹²
• Breastfeeding mums who co-sleep tend to be highly responsive to their baby’s needs – unless they’ve had alcohol, taken illegal or sleep-inducing drugs, or are extremely tired.¹³
• Mums and babies who co-sleep often wake more during the night. This may help protect against sudden unexpected infant deaths, as mums check on and breastfeed their babies more frequently than when room-sharing.^14,15

Certain situations increase the risk of SUDI when co-sleeping:

• Smoking: If you or your partner smoke, or smoked during pregnancy, never co-sleep with your baby.
• Alcohol, drugs, or extreme tiredness: These can make it unsafe to co-sleep.
• Other people or pets in the bed: Babies should only share a sleep surface with a parent, not siblings or pets.
• Formula feeding: Formula-fed babies are safer sleeping in their own space next to your bed.
• Sofas and armchairs: Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. This is very dangerous.
• Overheating or head covering: Make sure your baby doesn’t get too hot or have their head covered.
• Leaving baby alone on an adult bed: Babies should never be left unattended on an adult bed.

Red Nose provides the following tips if you choose to co-sleep:

• Always put your baby to sleep on their back.
• Use a firm, flat mattress.
• Create a clear sleep space for baby to sleep. Place baby to the side of one parent – never in the middle of two adults or next to other children or pets.
• Use a safe sleeping bag with no hood and baby’s arms out. Don’t wrap or swaddle baby.
• Make sure baby can’t fall off the bed. Move the bed away from the wall so baby can’t get trapped between the bed and the wall.
• Avoid electric blankets and keep pillows, doonas, and sheets away from your baby.
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered.
• Tie up long hair and remove all jewellery including teething necklaces.

Australian Breastfeeding Association and Red Nose downloadable resources

Bed sharing and your baby

How breastfeeding helps protect against Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Other sites and information

Red Nose: Safe sleeping guide
Red Nose: Safer co-sleeping guide

Caring for your baby at night and when sleeping – UNICEF
Dr James McKenna’s website