Bedsharing / sharing a bed with your baby

If you choose to share your bed with your baby, keep them safe by putting them beside you in their own baby bed (a wahakura, Pēpi-pod®, or similar safe sleep device). Until they’re 12 months old, babies are vulnerable to SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant) during sleep, and using a baby bed like this will help reduce the risk of your baby suffocating while they’re asleep. 

Bedsharing can be dangerous if pēpi was exposed to smoke during pregnancy, was born early or small (under 2500g at birth). Take extra caution and avoid bedsharing if possible when pēpi is unwell, you are very tired, or anyone has been smoking, vaping, drinking, or using drugs as these increase baby’s risk of SUDI.

A wahakura is a sleep device for pēpi woven from harakeke (flax) and fitted with a mattress that provides pēpi their own safe sleep space while bedsharing.

It helps to protect pēpi against accidental suffocation caused by a parent or caregiver rolling onto their baby, or the baby being smothered by blankets.

The process of making a wahakura connects whānau to traditional Māori matauranga (knowledge) and tikanga. There are various types of wahakura - waikawa and whiri. Wahakura raranga (plaiting) and whiri (braiding) weaving techniques ensure it stays strong, the base stays flat, and so that the sides won’t collapse.

Guidelines for wahakura change according to the region where they’re made.

You’ll need a 20-25mm foam mattress with a cotton cover, and you need to make sure there are no gaps between the inner wall of the wahakura and the mattress. The National SUDI Prevention Programme's national safe sleep device guidelines(PDF, 1001KB) provides a summary of guidelines for weaving a wahakura.

The Pēpi Pod® is made from polypropylene, a food-grade plastic that can be fitted with a mattress and bedding. Like the wahakura, they’re designed so you can share a bed with your baby, while keeping baby safe from accidental suffocation.

Pēpi-Pod®

Weaving a wahakura is not an easy task and requires a lot of practice. Your Plunket nurse or local safe sleep coordinator may be able to put you in touch with reputable weavers who work to safety specifications.

You can buy Pēpi Pod® and similar safe sleep devices on Trademe.

If you’re planning to share your bed with your baby and don’t have a safe sleep device for your pēpi ask your midwife, doctor, Plunket or Tamariki Ora nurse for help to get one.

Many infant health care (Tamariki Ora) providers will have wahakura/pēpi-pods that you can borrow/hire for six months.