Co-sleeping is not safe in every situation, and it must be practiced sensibly according to safety guidelines.
Choose a firm mattress that fits tightly in its frame. Babies should not lie on soft bedding (in cribs or adult beds), because of the risk of suffocation. Also, there should be no space between the mattress and bed frame, to prevent entrapment.
Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, and other soft items from the bed. Never co-sleep on a couch, water bed, pillow-top mattress. When Baby is very young, if he finds himself face-down on soft bedding, he will not be able to move his head or roll over, and he may suffocate. Dress him warmly (but monitor his temperature during the night), and do not add soft items to the bed until they no longer present a danger to him.
Never co-sleep with a baby if you are obese, taking sedative or mind-altering drugs, or are severely sleep-deprived. You may be less aware of your body during sleep and roll on top of your baby. If you sleep too heavily, you might consider keeping your baby in a “sidecar,” bed that attaches to an adult mattress, to prevent such an occurrence.
Never allow an infant to sleep with a sibling, babysitter, or pet. The safest co-sleeping occurs when Baby lies between Mother and a wall or special guardrail. Others may be less aware of Baby during the night.
Don’t allow Baby to sleep with anything that might wrap around his neck or body during the night. Examples include bottom sheets that do not fit tightly, curtain cords, long strings on sleepwear (his or yours), or even your long hair (tie it back).
Make certain that your bed has no crevices or headboard cutouts that could entrap your baby. A bed pushed against a wall should be checked nightly to make sure there is no space between the mattress and the wall. If using a side rail, use one made of safe meshwork to prevent suffocation if your baby should be pushed into it, and make sure there is no space to entrap your baby between the side rail and mattress.