Dear mom .The earlier practice of keeping the baby in nursery during
hospital stay is now discouraged because it was found that it led to
more illnesses and problems for the babies. You should keep the baby in
your own room during hospital stay.
In India
it is common to keep the baby in mother’s cot and this practice
is quite good. I personally recommend it but your bed should be good
sized and baby should sleep on the wall side and not on the open side.
In west the practice of putting babies in a crib is more common. Some
western authors express reservations about the practice of baby sharing
mother’s bed, giving reasons that baby may be endangered from
heavy quilts, pillows or mother’s weight increasing the risk of
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). But even in the west, now a days,
and the practice of baby sharing bed with mother is gaining momentum.
Many people have a flexible system where the baby sometimes sleeps with
them, and sometimes in a crib in the same room.
However, you may avoid putting baby in your bed if:
- You are very ill
and need help yourself
- you or your
husband smoke anywhere, ever
- you or your
husband have been drinking
- You take
sleeping pills or such medication that makes you sleep deeply
In such situations you can keep your baby in a crib attached to your
bed. These days Arm’s reach baby cribs are available
which are very convenient as the baby is right next to you but in the
strict sense, not in your bed. All mothers will benefit from having
their baby in a bed that fits snugly next to their own bed, keeping the
child within arm's reach. Within arm's reach babies can be breast fed,
soothed, comforted or otherwise cared for while mother remains in her
own bed. Close proximity to the child will allow all mothers less
disturbance and more sleep.
