He colecho, that is, sleeping in the same bed with the baby, is one of the most controversial parenting practices. It generates a great debate between professionals and parents, so periodically experts review scientific evidence and make new recommendations.
Today we offer you the last consensus on breastfeeding, breastfeeding and sudden infant death syndrome, prepared by the Breastfeeding Committee and the Working Group for the Study of Sudden Infant Death of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, according to which The safest way to sleep for babies under six months is in their crib, face up and near their parents' bed.
In 2012 they concluded that colecho favors the practice of breastfeeding and does not increase the risk of sudden infant death. However, although the colecho facilitates breastfeeding and in turn protects against sudden death, there are also studies that conclude that the colecho increases the risk of sudden death, even if the parents do not smoke and in the absence of maternal alcohol consumption or drugs
Taking into account the disparity of conclusions that the studies throw and the different criteria of the professionals at the time of recommending it, the Spanish Association of Pediatrics has prepared a document whose full text you can see here, from which we rescue the three main conclusions:
1) The safest way to sleep for infants under six months is in his crib, face up, near his parents' bed. There is scientific evidence that this practice decreases the risk of SIDS by more than 50%.
2) Breastfeeding has a protective effect against SIDS and, on the other hand, colecho is a beneficial practice for the maintenance of breastfeeding, but it is also considered a factor that increases the risk of SIDS. should not be recommended in:
- Infants under three months of age.
- Prematurity and low birth weight.
- Parents who use tobacco, alcohol, drugs or sedative drugs.
- Sickness situations, especially extreme fatigue, such as immediate postpartum.
- Colecho on soft surfaces, water mattresses, sofa or armchairs
- Share the bed with other family members, with other children or with multiple people
3) Those parents who wish to maintain greater proximity with their baby during the night, may choose to place the Cot next to the bed or use a "sidecar" type crib (independent surface attached to the parents' bed), which facilitates breastfeeding and does not interfere with the frequency of breastfeeding.
What do you think about the current recommendations about colecho? How do you sleep?
