Entry taken from BrowardHealth.org/KidsHealth
Although some mothers may want to keep their babies in bed with them to make breastfeeding more convenient at night, cosleeping with babies can be hazardous.
But you can still choose to keep your baby close and make nighttime feedings easier by letting your baby sleep in a crib, bassinet, or play yard in your room — right next to your bed, even — for the first few months.
You also can invest in a device that looks like a bassinet or play yard missing one side that attaches to your bed, allowing you to be next to each other while eliminating the possibility of rolling over onto your infant.
To make nursing in bed more comfortable, it may help to keep a donut-type nursing pillow on or near your bed or to use a “husband” back pillow with arms on each side.
Keep the room dimly lit for nighttime feedings and also keep stimulation (talking, singing, etc.) to a minimum. This will help your baby to realize that nighttime is for sleeping — not playing — and will encourage your little one to return to sleep sooner.
A word of caution, though: You should never let your baby sleep on a soft surface or in the same room with people who are smoking because of the higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies should always be put on their backs to sleep to help reduce the risk of SIDS.
