Co-Sleeping: What You Need to Know

Co-sleeping is one of the most common — and most honestly discussed less than it should be — realities of early parenthood, and it deserves clear, non-judgemental, practical guidance rather than either silence or a blanket "never."

Last updated 25th October 2026. Written with Chantal Murphy, IACSC-certified sleep consultant.

Does Red Nose Australia recommend co-sleeping?

No. Red Nose is clear that "the safest place for a baby is in their own safe sleep space," and does not recommend co-sleeping. At the same time, they recognise that some families do co-sleep, whether by choice or because it happens unplanned in the middle of an exhausted night, and provide specific harm-reduction guidance for exactly that reality rather than leaving parents without information.

When should you never co-sleep, under any circumstances?

Red Nose is specific about this: never co-sleep if either parent is overly tired, unwell, or has consumed alcohol or any drug that causes drowsiness; if either parent smokes, even if it happens outside the bedroom; or if your baby was born premature or small for their gestational age. Falling asleep while holding your baby on a couch, sofa, or armchair is considered always unsafe, more so than bed-sharing itself because of the risk of your baby becoming wedged or trapped in the cushions.

Why does it matter that baby sleeps to the side, not between two parents?

Sleeping between two adults increases the risk of your baby becoming trapped, overheated, or covered by bedding or a rolling adult from either direction. Placing your baby to the outer side of one parent with that parent positioned between baby and the edge of the bed, or with a proper co-sleeping bassinet attachment reduces several of those specific risks at once.

What if co-sleeping happens unplanned, in the middle of the night?

This is genuinely common, you're feeding, exhausted, and wake to find you've both fallen asleep together. Rather than feeling guilty, the useful response is to check the same safety points every time it happens: is baby on their back, away from pillows and loose bedding, not between two adults, and not on a couch or chair. If unplanned co-sleeping happens regularly, it's worth being honest with yourself about whether it's becoming a pattern worth planning for properly, using the same harm-reduction steps deliberately rather than by accident.

If we want to move away from co-sleeping, where do we start?

Moving your baby into their own safe sleep space is often easier with a gradual, predictable approach rather than an abrupt change, our guide to teaching your baby to fall asleep independently covers exactly this, since a baby who can self-settle is generally more ready to sleep well in their own space. A consistent bedtime routine and a calm, gradual transition tend to work better than an overnight switch for most families.

Does breastfeeding change any of this?

Breastfeeding mothers often find they wake more easily and are more attuned to their baby during co-sleeping, which is a genuine protective factor but it doesn't remove the need for every other safety step above. The "never" circumstances (tiredness, alcohol, drugs, smoking, prematurity, sofa sleeping) apply regardless of whether you're breastfeeding.

How does this fit with the wider safe sleep recommendations?

Co-sleeping sits alongside, not separate from, Red Nose's six core safe sleep recommendations, back sleeping, an uncovered head and face, a smoke-free environment, and the rest still apply within a co-sleeping setup. Our full guide to SIDS recommendations: keeping your baby safe covers all six in detail.

What if one parent is comfortable with co-sleeping and the other isn't?

This is a common source of tension, and it's worth having the conversation directly rather than letting it play out silently at 3am, both parents need to agree on the same safety steps, since inconsistency (one parent following harm-reduction guidance carefully, the other not) is where real risk creeps in. Talking it through in daylight, away from the exhaustion of a night waking, usually leads to a clearer, more consistent decision than negotiating it in the moment.

When is it worth talking to a professional about co-sleeping?

If co-sleeping has become the only way your baby will sleep, if you're regularly co-sleeping unplanned despite wanting to avoid it, or if you simply want an honest, judgement-free plan for your specific family's situation, that's exactly the kind of thing worth talking through with a sleep consultant or your GP or maternal child health nurse, rather than trying to white-knuckle a change alone.

Common mistakes around co-sleeping

The most common mistake is co-sleeping "just this once" after drinking alcohol or when genuinely exhausted beyond safe limits, without recognising that these are exactly the circumstances where the risk rises sharply. A second is sleeping with baby between two adults for comfort or convenience, when the side position is meaningfully safer. A third is falling asleep feeding on a couch, which carries a higher risk than bed-sharing itself and is worth actively planning to avoid — sitting somewhere you're less likely to nod off, or setting a phone alarm during late-night feeds, can help.

Frequently asked questions

Is room-sharing the same as co-sleeping?
No, room-sharing means baby has their own safe sleep space in the same room as you, which Red Nose actively recommends for at least the first six months. Co-sleeping means sharing the same sleep surface, which Red Nose does not recommend.

Is bed-sharing ever completely risk-free?
No sleep arrangement removes all risk, but following the harm-reduction steps consistently, and never co-sleeping under the circumstances Red Nose flags as always unsafe, meaningfully reduces the risk if your family does choose to co-sleep.

Can I co-sleep with twins or multiples?
Co-sleeping with more than one baby at once adds further risk and isn't something Red Nose's harm-reduction guidance is designed to cover safely each baby needs their own safe sleep space.

Does a co-sleeping bassinet or bedside sleeper count as co-sleeping?
No, a properly attached bedside bassinet that meets safe sleep space standards gives your baby their own separate surface right next to you, which is a genuinely different (and generally safer) setup than sharing the same mattress.

Honest guidance, not a lecture

Co-sleeping is a common part of real family life, and the goal here is genuinely useful, judgement-free information rather than a blanket rule that doesn't reflect what actually happens at 3am. If you have questions specific to your baby, your GP, child health nurse, or a consultation can help.