In years gone by, the message has been loud and clear: bedsharing kills babies. But what does the science say? And why are big organisations like Unicef and the UK's Lullaby Trust now promoting safe bedsharing? Can you ever be safe when you sleep with your baby? And if you're part of the 75% of parents who do fall asleep with their babies at some point, exactly how do you reduce the risks?
I invited Carly Grubb, creator of The Beyond Sleep Training Project, to break down the research behind bedsharing and why these days many midwives and doctors avoid blanket 'co-sleeping is dangerous' advice and instead teach people the guidelines around safely sharing a sleep surface. Whether or not you think you'll bedshare, the message is clear: know how to do it safely, so you're not caught unawares.