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Psst … Do You Co-Sleep With Your Baby?

By U.S. News & World Report

When it comes to infant sleep practices, perhaps no topic is more debated than whether parents should co-sleep, or share their bed with their infant. Concerns about the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome prompt health care professionals to warn against co-sleeping under any circumstances.

However, it’s important to understand that there are differences between families who have planned to co-sleep, or intentional co-sleepers, and those tired parents who bed-share in a pinch, or reactive co-sleepers. In fact, the risk of SIDS is different for these two groups. A 2012 meta-analysis published the Journal of Pediatrics found that routine, intentional co-sleeping was not associated with an increased risk of SIDS. The increased risk only existed for reactive, unplanned co-sleeping.

Unplanned co-sleeping is actually very common. Data from the 2010 Survey of Mothers’ Sleep and Fatigue found that about 60 percent of parents will bed-share at some time in the baby’s first year. However, because of the warnings about how dangerous it is, parents may not want to admit they co-sleep out of fear of criticism or stigma. Responding to an online survey by the website Gentle Parenting, half of parents reported lying about bed-sharing to avoid criticism or stigma. The secrecy associated with co-sleeping means parents may not receive vital advice from health care professionals and may not learn how to prepare for safe co-sleeping, resulting in conditions that often are hazardous to the health of the child.

In their new recommendations on protecting against SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that the absolute prohibition against co-sleeping and bed-sharing — especially for breast-feeding mothers — has resulted in a number of exhausted moms falling asleep with their babies while sitting in a chair or on the couch. The AAP now recommends room-sharing, not bed-sharing, for at least six months and up to a year as protective against SIDS and supportive of breast-feeding. This allows mothers to nurse in bed and conveniently put the baby back in a nearby crib or co-sleeper, a bassinet that attaches to the side of an adult bed.

The dangers of suffocation, SIDS and entrapment associated with unsafe co-sleeping are real, and it’s important to know how to avoid them. Preparation is key to safe sleep. Also, make sure to talk to your physician about co-sleeping. There’s no substitute for your doctor’s input and oversight of your child’s care.

[See: How to Promote Safe Sleep for Your Infant.]

What to Do — and Not to Do — if You Plan to Co-sleep

Here are some suggestions for parents considering co-sleeping shared by experts in the field, including Dr. James McKenna, a researcher and head of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at Notre Dame University:

— Plan ahead. Prep your sleep space ahead of time. Create a safe “crash pad” where you can lie down in the baby’s room or on the floor near your bed using a futon or firm extra mattress with no pillows or duvets. A crash pad is perfect for those nights when your baby wakes frequently, your own bed isn’t set up for safe co-sleeping and you’re so exhausted that you’re afraid you may fall asleep feeding or holding your baby. Have a co-sleeper or port-a-crib ready for your room just in case.

— Keep it firm. Be sure your mattress is firm and the sheets are well-fitting. Never use a waterbed or any soft or flexible sleeping surface.

— Move away the fluff. If you bring your child into your bed, move away all pillows and blankets. You may need to add a layer to your own pajamas. Babies should never be covered by duvets, sheets or blankets.

— Ensure there are no gaps. Use well-designed guardrails to protect your baby from rolling off the bed or becoming entrapped. Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and the headboard or footboard. Some parents choose to move their mattress to the floor for a few months to reduce these risks.

— Consider bed position. Ideally, move your bed away from walls for this period of time to avoid any entrapment. It’s hard to get a mattress anchored close enough to a wall without creating an entrapment hazard.

— Choose the right sleep position. Place your baby between a guardrail and the mother, not between the two parents. Mothers are characteristically more aware of their baby’s presence even when sleeping. Also, remember to place your baby on his back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS.

— Tell your partner. You and your partner should always be made aware that a baby is present in the bed whenever co-sleeping occurs. If the family bed is your ongoing choice, then your partner will be aware of this from the outset. This is a warning for those who may accidentally co-sleep. It may feel counter-intuitive to wake your partner to let him or her know you’re bringing your baby to bed to help everyone sleep better; but it increases the safety for your child if you and your partner are aware of your baby’s presence in the bed.

— Don’t let your hair become a hazard. Put long hair back in an elastic band to avoid your child getting tangled in your hair, posing a potential strangulation hazard.

[See: 10 Things No One Tells You About Breast-feeding.]

When Bed-sharing Is Not Advised

In a handful of situations, it’s best not to bring your child into your bed at all, since the risks to their health increase significantly in these circumstances. Here are some scenarios when you should refrain from bed-sharing:

— Deep sleeper: If mom or dad tends to be a very deep sleeper, they may not awake to a baby’s distress.

— Smoking: Secondhand smoke and exhaled air from a smoker poses significant health risks to infants and toddlers who can rebreathe that air.

— Body awareness: If you are significantly overweight, or obese, you may not be as aware of the placement of your body while sleeping.

— Reduced mental awareness. If you have been drinking alcohol or using drugs or medications that can impair your judgment, you may not be able to respond to your baby’s signs of distress.

[See: The 11 Most Dangerous Places in Your Home for Babies and Small Kids.]

The key to safe co-sleeping is planning ahead. Make sure that your bedroom is ready in case you hit those rough patches that most parents encounter at some point in the first year. Understanding the risks can help you prepare so that you can all have a good, safe night’s sleep.

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Psst … Do You Co-Sleep With Your Baby? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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