Co-sleeping with your baby

Some parents choose to share a bed with their babies, while others sometimes fall asleep with their baby without meaning to. Sleeping together with your baby is known as co-sleeping. Follow the tips on this page to reduce the risks of co-sleeping and help keep your baby safer while they sleep.

Illustration of a man, woman and baby sleeping. The man and woman are both facing in the direction of the baby, who is sleeping next to mum. The baby is sleeping on the mattress, with no bedding covering them and no pillow beneath their head.

On this page

The safest place

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket, free from toys, blankets and pillows. This helps lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But many parents find themselves co-sleeping whether they mean to or they fall asleep together unintentionally.

Wherever you’re planning for your baby to sleep, we recommend making your bed as safe as possible for your baby. This page offers advice and guidance on how to create a safer environment for sleep, when to avoid co-sleeping completely, and how to reduce the risk of SIDS.

A very young baby is lying on their back, looking to the side directly to the camera. They are awake and have their hand to their face.

Co-sleeping definitions

Room sharing: when a baby sleeps in the same room as their parent(s) or carer, but in their own separate sleeping space such as a cot or Moses basket.
Bed sharing: when a baby shares the bed with an adult for most of the night including for sleep – not just to be comforted or fed.
Sofa sharing: when a parent or carer sleeps on a sofa or armchair with a baby (remember, this is dangerous so avoid falling asleep like this).
Co-sleeping: when parents or carers sleep with a baby on a bed, sofa or chair.

A baby is sleeping on their back in their cot with a dummy in their mouth. They have a medium skin tone and their mum has her hand on their chest.

When not to co-sleep

Whether you choose to co-sleep or you fall asleep together unplanned, there are some key times to avoid co-sleeping.

Co-sleeping with your baby is very dangerous if:

You or anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol
You or anyone in the bed smokes or the baby was exposed to smoking in pregnancy
You or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs or medication that make you feel sleepy
Your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5.5 pounds when they were born.

In these scenarios, it’s always best to put baby in their own sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. Keeping the cot or Moses basket next to your bed might make this easier.

Never fall asleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby. The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult. They are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.

Co-sleeping more safely

Adult beds have not been designed or safety tested for infant sleep in the same way as, for example, a cot or Moses basket. Whether you choose to bedshare, or it’s unplanned, it is best to think ahead and make your bed safer for co-sleeping.

Keep pillows and adult bedding away from your baby, along with any other items that could cover their head or cause them to overheat. Many babies who die from SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding.
Remove slatted or decorated headboards.
Follow our safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of SIDS, such as sleeping baby on their back.
Don’t bring other children or pets into bed with you. This will help reduce the risk of accidents.
Check that baby cannot be trapped in the bedframe or headboard, or fall out of bed or get trapped or wedged between the mattress and the wall.
Never leave your baby alone in an adult bed. It’s important to consider any risks that an adult bed may pose to your baby, especially while you are asleep. As your baby develops, becomes more mobile and can move around, the risks can change, so we recommend checking your bed regularly to prevent possible accidents.

If you are bedsharing with your baby, consider any risks before every sleep. If you are unwell or have drunk any alcohol, your baby will be safest in a separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket.

Sharing a room

Babies should always be in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first six months. You can still leave the room to make a cup of tea or go to the toilet, but for most of the time when they’re sleeping, they are safest if you’re close by.

There are no devices on the market that can replace having a parent or carer in the same room as baby for safer sleep.

Frequently asked questions

I'm worried I might fall asleep while I breastfeed my baby at night, is this ok?

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If you feel you might fall asleep, we recommend you prepare the bed to make it safer for baby.

Make sure you know the advice on when you should definitely avoid co-sleeping, so you know when to take particular care, such as if anyone in the bed smokes or has had any alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy, or your baby was premature or had a low birth weight.

It’s also really important not to accidentally fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. If you think you might fall asleep on a sofa or armchair, put the baby down in a safer place to sleep.

Should I co-sleep with my baby?

The safest place for a baby is their own separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket. If you do choose to co-sleep, we advise you to read all the information on co-sleeping and how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so you can make an informed decision for you and your baby.

There are some circumstances where we strongly recommend against co-sleeping, such as on a sofa or armchair, if anyone in the bed smokes or has drunk alcohol or your baby was premature or had a low birth weight.

How should I co-sleep safely with a baby?

If you do choose to co-sleep with your baby, there are things you can do to make it safer.

Keep pillows and adult bedding away from the baby.
Remove slatted and decorated headboards.
Don’t bring other children or pets into the bed with you.
Make sure there’s nowhere the baby could get trapped such as between the mattress and the wall.
Don’t leave the baby alone in an adult bed.
Plus, follow our safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), such as sleeping baby on their back.

There are also times and places when it’s essential not to co-sleep, such as on a sofa or armchair, if anyone in the bed smokes or has drunk alcohol or taken medicines than make you sleepy, or your baby was premature or a had a low birth weight.

Can I co-sleep with twins or multiples?

Is it safer to co-sleep using a nest or pod than with a baby just lying on the adult bed?

Why do you advise against co-sleeping in certain scenarios?

Research suggests that around half of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths happen whilst co-sleeping, and most of these occur in high risk situations. While the exact cause of SIDS is not known, we do know that there are certain risk factors, and avoiding these greatly lowers the risk.

This is why we strongly advise against co-sleeping when there are certain risk factors, as mentioned above. Especially if your baby was premature or low birth weight (below 2.5kg or 5.5 pounds), an adult in the bed has drunk alcohol or taken medicines that make you sleepy. Or if the baby was exposed to smoke during pregnancy or anyone in the bed smokes.

What bedding should I use for my baby when we co-sleep?

Keep adult bedding away from your baby, along with any belts or cords from clothing. Keep adult bedding at your waist height and wear an extra layer of clothing to keep warm.

A baby sleeping bag is a good way of giving your baby their own bedding when bed sharing. Baby sleeping bags should be well fitted so the baby can’t wriggle down inside. Most sleeping bags are fitted according to a baby’s weight, rather than age.

A dad and baby are playing together with colourful blocks. Dad is smiling and the baby's tongue is slightly stuck out in concentration. The baby. Both have dark hair and a brown skin tone, and the baby wears a blue top.

Remember

Many parents co-sleep with their babies, even if they don’t plan to, so it’s always a good idea to make your bed as safe as possible. Keep adult bedding such as pillows and duvets away from your baby so they have their own clear space, and make sure there’s nowhere they can get trapped. If you feel like you might drift off on a sofa or armchair, place your baby down somewhere safe first.

These guidelines should give you confidence to know you’ve made your sleep space as safe as possible for you little one, so you can both have a safer and comfortable nights sleep.

Every baby safe. Every family supported.

If you found this information helpful, consider donating today to help us reach and help the next parent or carer, just like you. Your kindness will:

Empower families with trusted advice on keeping their baby safe
Support grieving families through the darkest days of their lives
Fund research seeking answers into sudden and unexpected deaths of babies and young children
Take us one step closer to a world where no baby dies suddenly or unexpectedly

Donate