Baby suffocation – accidentally sleeping on the baby

Will my drunk husband crush our baby to death?

Deciding where your baby should sleep may be a difficult decision to make especially if you had not thought about it initially.
There are a few factors that you need to consider before you finally make a decision.

o You and your baby need space.

o Your baby needs to be protected from falling off the bed.

o Your baby needs to be within reach in case he/she wakes up and needs to be breastfed.

You may therefore decide to have your baby sleep in the same bed as you or in a cot beside you. Most importantly let your baby sleep in the same room as you for the first six months.

Cot-death phobia
Probably the most terrifying thought for a mother is that she will find her newborn dead in the cot. Many mothers spend sleepless nights because they want to monitor the baby’s sleeping habits throughout the night. There are many rumours about which sleeping positions cause which complications, adding to the confusion especially if you are a fresher. The cot-death phobia, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is aggravated by the tendency for infants to vomit unannounced, leading most mothers to think the baby may choke to death while unattended.

SIDS is the unexpected and sudden demise of an otherwise healthy-looking baby, typically aged between three weeks and five months and a post-mortem fails to explain the death. In general SIDS is more common in prematurely born infants and less common in breast-fed infants. The occurrence of SIDS is thought to be less than 1% of all babies born.

Tobacco smoke in an infant’s room, baby sleeping flat with palm or face down (prone position) and overheating are some of the factors believed to increase the probability of SIDS.

Sleeping on the baby
Besides cot-death phobia, mothers who take their babies to mummy’s bed fear they or their partners would “crush” the baby to death, especially if both parents ‘sleep like logs’. This phobia is worse where the male partner is a drunk. Your fear is that he may roll over the baby or suffocate the baby while you sleep.

Some mothers have a cot designed to open on one end so that the cot and their bed can be pushed against each other. Your baby will therefore keep within your reach without coming into your way while you sleep.

Having your baby sleep in close proximity is healthy
o Your baby will recognize your presence and know you are available to respond both emotionally and physiologically, which is an important factor in his growth.
o If you spend most of your time during the day at work, having your baby sleep close to you will create the time and right atmosphere for bonding. The closeness felt during the night can help create a stronger relationship between you and your child.
o Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents tend to breastfeed more, but in return disrupt their parents’ sleep.

o Some studies claim that babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents may sleep for longer periods at night.

Reasons to get you keeping your baby out of your bed

o Sleep does not necessarily come as easily for you because you may worry about suffocating the baby and other accidents.
o If you get your baby accustomed to falling asleep next to you and in your bed, he may fail to settle down when left with others.
o He may also resist having his own bedroom or reject a transition from your bed to his.

o Your marital intimacy may get compromised.

If you must share a bed with your baby, here are some handy tips

> Risk of overlying, suffocation and death
Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. If you are unwell and taking either over-the-counter or prescription medications that cause drowsiness, do not share the bed that night with your baby.
If you or your partner is prone to extreme exhaustion, keep the baby out of your bed.

> Physical construction of your bed
The head or foot board railings of your bed should not have wide spaces where your baby can get entrapped
The bed should preferably have no side railings as these may get the baby wedged between the mattress and the side rail, resulting in suffocation.

> Bundles of beddings
Your bed should be well made-up, with blankets and sheets straightened up to avoid the baby getting trapped within and possibly suffocating.

> Location of the bed
It is not advisable to ‘lock’ in the baby by pulling other furniture next to your bed or pushing your bed next to a wall. The baby can get trapped between the bed and these obstructions and suffocate.

> Possible strangulation
If your hair is long or you have worn long braids, pull these back and fasten before sleeping next to the baby. Alternatively wear sleeping head gear. Dangling hair or hairpiece can get wound up around your baby’s neck and potentially strangle him to death while you sleep.

> Sibling accidents
If you have other kids, never allow them to play in bed with an infant or with each other. The risk of ignorant, playful suffocation by siblings is real, very real.

> Sleeping position
Finally when you get into bed, avoid the baby-in-between temptation. A baby between you and your spouse not only keeps the two of you apart, but is also at high risk of suffocation. If you are acrobatic in bed do not carry your baby to sleep with you!

END: BL 2/57

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