Westerville, OH -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/25/2014 -- As many parents, both new and old, learn very quickly, a happy baby equals a happy family. And in some households, the equation looks more like this: sleeping baby equals rested mom equals happy family. Recently, “co-sleeping” has been a hot topic in the news. Nicole Johnson, Founder of The Baby Sleep Site®, has made herself available to clarify the true definition of co-sleeping and also to offer safety advice as it pertains to co-sleeping. Baby sleep is not an easy topic, but for parents of babies and toddlers, it is certainly an important one.

According to Nicole Johnson, if a baby is having sleep problems, continuing to co-sleep actually might be a good solution and can benefit a breastfeeding relationship. If numerous nighttime wakings are doing more harm than good for mom or baby, sleeping together may be a great option. Some babies take time to learn to self-soothe; until they develop the ability to learn those skills, a caregiver will need to provide the soothing babies need to get to sleep. Experts disagree about the relative risks and benefits of co-sleeping, but this is a personal decision for each family. It may not be suited for everyone, but Ms. Johnson does recognize co-sleeping as a viable solution in the quest of getting everyone some much-needed rest. Since so many parents end up co-sleeping regardless of AAP recommendations, it’s important to know how to make the experience as safe as possible.

Here are some do’s and don’ts:

1.) Do not co-sleep if you have been drinking, using drugs or are on medication that makes you drowsy.
2.) Do not smoke in the same room in which the baby is sleeping. This can cause an increased risk of SIDS.
3.) Do not co-sleep on a soft mattress or a waterbed.
4.) Do not co-sleep if you are obese.
5.) Do not place baby between two parents.
6.) Do not have baby share a bed with a non-parent.
7.) Do not swaddle your baby while bed-sharing.
8.) Never co-sleep on a couch or in a recliner, since baby could easily become wedged in a furniture crevice.
9.) Do not place baby to sleep next to an older child.
10.) DO sleep on a firm mattress with very little adult bedding.
11.) If sharing a bed with your baby, DO consider placing your mattress directly on the floor, as this reduces the risk that baby will fall and hurt himself.
12.) If your baby is young, born premature, or has respiratory problems DO consider using a co-sleeping bassinet that can be near your bed.
13.) If your baby is older and is moving around a lot, DO consider using a bed rail.
14.)DO be patient when the time comes to transition your baby or toddler away from co-sleeping, and into his or her own bed; it may take some time.

“Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all-approach to parenting or baby sleep,” says Nicole Johnson. “Here at The Baby Sleep Site®, we trust parents to make good decisions and support them in making choices that are the best fit for their particular family. We are here to help you with YOUR baby’s sleep, and we are committed to respecting your goals and desires as a parent. Our job is to help parents be fully informed, and that includes sharing AAP recommendations and safety recommendations for co-sleeping practices from expert doctors and researchers.”

For more detailed information on co-sleeping, visit:
- http://www.babysleepsite.com/safety/co-sleeping-solution/
- http://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/is-co-sleeping-dangerous/
- http://www.babysleepsite.com/newsletter-editorial/co-sleeping-right-way-to-sleep-with-child/

Links:
Web: http://www.babysleepsite.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/babysleepsite
Twitter: http://twitter.com/babysleepsite
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/babysleepsite/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/babysleepsite

About the Founder: Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson is the President of Baby Sleep Site®, which was founded in 2008. She began her journey to help moms cope with their babies’ sleep schedule by leading an internet-based message board. Her goal was for new parents to overcome their own sleeping challenges much quicker than she had. Following that, she created The Baby Sleep Site® (www.babysleepsite.com) and expanded her offerings to include e-books, articles, a blog, and customized sleep consulting. The feedback from around the world has been incredible. The Baby Sleep Site® enjoys almost 500,000 visitors per month and has personally helped almost 13,000 families overcome their babies’ sleep challenges. Nicole and her team offer professional, sound support that works.

Nicole Johnson is available for interviews by phone, email and in-person. She can also offer supplementary content on various parenting topics.