Co-sleeping policy

[anitame]

I've been assigned the task of writing a hospital policy on co-sleeping to go along with our breastfeeding policy. Thought I'd come here first to get some ideas of what your policies look like. You know, rather than reinvent the wheel.

Do your hospitals have a policy? We don't currently have one but a lot of our moms keep babe in bed with them. TIA

NOTE: I'm NOT interested in starting a co-sleeping/family bed/crib/formula/breast/any other flame war.

Anita

[parker in arkie]

The hospital that I work at does not have a co-sleeping policy. I had no drugs or interventions with my youngest two and the babies both roomed in with me and my husband for the time we spent at the hospital.

After the 3rd time, a nurse came in and chastised me for having my child in my arms as I dozed or my husband having our child asleep on his chest, they gave up.

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

We have had babies go to ground both from the bed and on dad's chest when he was on the sleeper. We have no policy, but parents are discouraged from it.

[mother/babyRN, RN]

We support rooming in and of course, try to make sure that the parents are appropriately "co-sleeping." Thank goodness God is often with us (always) in maternity....Had a pt last year with a difficult social situation...Something made me go in and check on her for no reason other than I felt I should. She was a vag delivery, but due to her positive ODU (for Thc), there was a social service consult...Baby was in bed with her,under the pillow, and blue...I was able to revive the infant but mother was livid that I disturbed them...

As to side rails up, in this state they are considered restraints....Since that is the case, if side rails are up, they technically have to be with the pt permission, which I ask as, You don't mind if I put up the side rails, do you? If she does and there are no indications otherwise, I will write that she was asked and did give permission. If she didn't want them raised, I mention the risks, and document same. This came about due to people on other areas that fall out of bed when trying to get up, whether confused or otherwise...Also, I always document that the side rails are up, that the pt was aware, that the call lights and bed controls were explained to the pt and were within reach AND, especially after surgery of any kind, that the bed was in low position...

Since my fateful experience with saving that infant, I am leery but respectful of pt decisions to sleep in bed. People are tired, but while we don't have an official policy, we do emphasize risks and have them sign a document indicating safety risks on a number of things, including this subject. It is presented in a non threatening positive manner.....

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

We had a dad roll onto a baby whle lying on the sleeper in the mom's room. I'm sure it could easily have been the mom instead of the dad had it been bed with her. Baby's dead now.

[Jolie, BSN]

I couldn't agree more with KVRN. We discharged a preemie home after a 2 month NICU stay, only to have him return DOA, smothered by his father during a nap. It was just heartbreaking! If a parent insists on co-bedding in the hospital, I would want a release signed, or at least insist on thorough documentation in the chart that the parents have been warned of the potential risk to the baby. I can't imagine that a side-rail would provide any real security to an infant, and padding the rails with blankets or pillows sounds like it would increase the risk of suffocation.

It kind of reminds me of the "olden days" when mothers and their company would want to smoke in the rooms with their babies present. I had more than one mother tell me that it was her baby and that she would do what she wanted. I would politely reply that as long as the baby remained in the hospital I was legally responsible for insuring its safety, and that I would gladly return the infant to the room when the cigarettes were disposed of.

[Mofe'ny]

No co-sleeping here either. We offer to take the baby back to the nursery so the parents can sleep. We have also had babies fall out of the bed, or near suffocation and shipped to the level 3. Don't know of any in the last few years though. Parents are also requested to have a light on in the room if the baby is in with them at night. Normally this is the bathroom light on with the door open. Most of my moms like to do that because they will wake up if someone tries to come in the room when the hall door hits the bathroom door. "No one can take my baby then!"