Your baby has been crying for hours in the ; middle of the night. Nothing will calm ; her.

Finally, she settles in your arms but ; awakens and screams the minute you set her in her crib. Out of exhaustion, you take her into bed with ; you and both you and baby snuggle in for a cozy sleep.

Except for North America and Europe, most people in countries around the world sleep ; with their children. The trend is also ; increasing in Canada and Australia, ; although many parents don’t like to admit to the practice. ; They worry about safety concerns and advice ; from friends and relatives that once their baby is in bed with them, they’ll ; never get her out. But the reality is ; that most parents will sleep with their baby at some point in time whether for ; a temporary period or an on-going practice. ; Whether for half the night while getting the baby to sleep, or getting ; more sleep during the early hours of the morning, or for naptimes. ; Baby could be teething, sick, have night ; terrors, and need night-time parenting. ; Or you could be on holidays with no crib. ; How can parents make it safe?

An adult bed is just like a motor vehicle; ; both are not custom made for infants. ; For cars, we have invented car seats to reduce the risk of injury and ; death while travelling. ; For beds, we ; have several safety recommendations to reduce the risk while sleeping ; together.

There are basically two ways to have a ; safer sleep-sharing experience. Some ; parents try the sidecar approach. They put the crib in the master bedroom with ; one crib side down. The lowered crib ; side is moved right next to the bed. ; This is called co-sleeping. Other parents just get rid of the box spring ; and put a king size mattress down on the floor so there is no danger of ; falling. Just as adults are aware of the edges of their beds and seldom fall ; off, mothers and babies become well aware of each other as they sleep, so ; rolling over on baby is not common. This ; is called co-sleeping. The risks of ; suffocation, wedging and entrapment and falling can be reduced by the following ; tips:

Never put baby to bed on a waterbed.

Never sleep with baby while under the ; influence of drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol, or if partner is under the ; influence of the same.

Never leave baby unattended on an adult ; bed.

Keep pillows, comforters, stuffed animals ; and sheets away from baby. Dress baby in ; a warm fleece sleeper and Mum in a warm cotton turtleneck so the upper body ; doesn’t get cold and you don’t need blankets or comforters to cover up.

Tie-back long hair and fasten up.

Make sure sheets are fitted under the ; mattress.

Always put baby on her back to sleep.

Avoid siblings in the same bed. If siblings do share a bed, Mum should sleep ; between sibs and baby.

If using a bed with legs, make sure the ; spacing between headboard and footboard is no more then currently allowed for ; mattress-crib spacing in safety approved cribs.

If Mum or Dad smoked during the pregnancy, ; avoid sleep sharing.

Mattress must be firm.

Never sleep on couches, overstuffed chairs ; or sofas, or hide-a-beds.

Never cover up baby’s face.

The mattress should not be against a wall ; or furniture because baby could become entrapped.

Baby should not sleep between Mum and Dad ; due to overheating produced from both bodies. ; Sleeping between Mum and end of mattress on the floor is the safest.

Avoid strings and ties on baby and parent’s ; nightclothes.

Avoid overheating the room and baby.

Avoid sleeping near window treatment cords ; could strangle or windows could pose a falling risk.

Avoid using bed rails for infants under one ; year.

No infant sleep environment is 100% ; safe. But by following the safety ; recommendations for cribs or co-sleeping, we can greatly reduce the risks.