KOURTNEY Kardashian Barker has been putting her fourth baby at risk by bringing him into her bed each night, an infant sleep specialist has claimed.
She urged the reality star to follow co-sleeping guidelines and cited her response to a struggling parent as “unhelpful” and of “no benefit to her baby.”
Kourtney, 45, shared an image on Instagram Stories showing her new baby Rocky’s empty crib.
Kourtney also responded to a follower's question about naps.
"New Mamma here, any tips on a baby who only likes to be held to take a nap?" asked the mom.
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"Enjoy every second! We do the same. He's never been in his crib. It's my favorite thing in the world." said Kourtney.
The Kardashians star welcomed Rocky Thirteen Barker with her husband, Travis Barker, 48, in 2023.
Infant sleep expert and Mommywise founder Natalie Nevares said Kourtney was not “dog paddling” like other moms — and didn't have the same reasons for sharing a bed with him.
The Hulu star admitted in the past that she co-slept with her kids.
Rocky is Kourtney's fourth child. She has Mason, 14; Penelope, 11; and Reign, 9, with her ex, Scott Disick.
“A mom asked Kourtney for tips, but she responded with unhelpful messaging,” Nevares told The U.S. Sun.
“Moms can feel exhausted, struggling, and be dog paddling with their newborns.
"Babies can have difficulty with naps in the day and wake up all night.
“Kourtney is not dog paddling.
"She can take care of herself in the daytime by going to the gym, getting a massage, and taking a nap.
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"Kourtney would have caretakers, but working moms do not have this luxury.
"Kourtney could also have had plenty of opportunities to hang out with her kids and cuddle them during the day.
This is about comfort, personal reasons, and a self-need for her bonding or being afraid of losing it.
Natalie Nevares
"But when it comes to her nighttime, it is the only time she has been alone with her baby.
"She is holding onto the possibility of co-sleeping, which has no benefit for the baby.
“This is about comfort, personal reasons, and a self-need for her bonding or being afraid of losing it."
DANGER ZONE
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-sleeping is not recommended.
The official guidelines are to place infants on their backs to sleep in their sleep space with no other people.
Parents should use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and fitted sheet.
“They do recommend room sharing,” added Nevares.
“This is slightly controversial because it is a little bit conservative.
“The advice is to share the room with their babies is to prevent SIDS.
If Kourtney does not have her bedroom and sleeps with the kids, how will her marriage survive?
Natalie Nevares
“A baby can suffocate under pillows under a human being, especially when they are little.
"Babies can not turn their heads if a human rolls over on them.
“They can asphyxiate and die of asphyxiation.”
In Season 5 of The Kardashians, Kourtney opened up about her fourth pregnancy, which was high-risk.
Kourtney first revealed her baby bump at a packed Blink-182 concert in 2023 in Los Angeles.
But at 31 weeks pregnant, she told how she went for a scan.
Kourtney is going to be stuck with her baby in her bed until the children go through puberty.
Natalie Nevares
During the scan with "a high-risk doctor," something "caught his eye," with the results being sent off to be checked further.
In the end, Kourtney had fetal surgery, with the baby being operated on while still in the womb.
Kourtney’s earlier pregnancies went without a hitch in 2009, 2011, and 2014.
She told podcaster Amanda Hirsh in 2022 how she co-slept with Penelope for over 10 years.
“She’s slept with me every day since she was born,” she said.
“And pretty much still does, unless she has a friend sleep over.”
Kourtney returned to the topic in 2018 on her website, Poosh.
“I didn’t have to get out of bed to get the kids back to sleep when they woke up during the night,” she said.
“It was easier when one of the kids woke up, since I was right there. It’s what worked for all of us to get the most sleep, so I quickly embraced it,” she added.
SURVIVAL TACTICS
Nevares said Kourtney’s co-sleeping choices would impact her entire family over the longer term.
“Kourtney is going to be stuck with her baby in her bed until the children go through puberty,” she said.
“How does that play into when they want sleepovers or when Rocky is 10?
"He might be afraid to sleep at a friend's house because he does not know how to sleep without his parents.
I wonder how Travis fits into this favorite thing.
Natalie Nevares
“Similarly, if Kourtney does not have her bedroom and sleeps with the kids, how will her marriage survive?”
Travis and Kourtney married in 2022 and struggled through IVF ahead of Rocky’s arrival.
Travis has three children — Landon, 18, Alabama, 16, and a stepdaughter he shares with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler.
“I wonder how Travis fits into this favorite thing,” added Nevares.
“I wonder which of the couple does not like to have sex.”
“We have a team of coaches that fly around the country and stay with families in their homes," added Nevares.
"This is to help parents sleep train their babies in person.
“We tailor it for each baby and each family.
"We hold the parents' hands and help them understand what is normal and what is not normal.
“We get babies sleeping through the night in three to four days in their cribs.
"This is where they are safest with the video monitor.”
