The ABCs of safe sleep for your baby

The safest place for babies to sleep is in a crib in their parents' bedroom. That's the official recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

But many parents share a bed with their baby at some point. This is especially true for breastfeeding moms.

We asked Premera medical director Dr. David Buchholz to explain the background behind the safe sleep recommendations.

Pediatricians recommend babies sleep:

They call this the ABCs of safe sleep. Dr. Buchholz noted pediatricians debate this advice among themselves, but studies haven't shown bed-sharing to be as safe as infants sleeping alone. "Given the available research," said Dr. Buchholz, "we can’t conclude that bed sharing with infants three months and younger is safe, even when parents take precautions."

Breast feeding advocates discuss the benefits of co-sleeping. “Breast feeding is one of the best things that a mother can do for her baby,” said Dr. Buchholz. "If co-sleeping allows a mother to breast feed or breast feed longer, I would support it as long as a mother and her family are well aware of the risks and benefits.”

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"If I were counseling someone who was asking about safe sleeping, I would say, ‘Become well informed of the risks and benefits of co-sleeping and make a choice that best fits the values of your family.’” He also noted that sleeping with an infant might be okay if the parents aren't obese, don’t smoke, and haven’t consumed drugs or alcohol before bed.

The Safe to Sleep campaign encourages people to put babies to sleep on their backs. Since it launched in 1994, the rate of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, has been cut in half.

It's important to understand the risks of sleeping with your baby. The recommendation from pediatricians and public health officials is consistent. Consult your doctor if you're not sure what's best for you or your baby's specific health needs.