How do children benefit from Co-Sleeping?

A lot of individuals who are experienced parents as well as some medical professionals are very judgmental of parents who share their bed with their babies/children. They feel that bed-sharing would increase the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the child would never become independent and would be emotionally instable – but this is a myth. Co-sleeping can be categorized into the following:

·        Family bed : where the baby sleeps in with the parents

·        Sidecar arrangement: where a bassinette or cot is put at the same level as the    family bed

·        Different bed in the same room

·        Child is welcomed in the parent bed as and when needed

There are many advantages of co-sleeping:

·        Both baby and mommy get more sleep

·        Mommy can feed baby back to sleep before baby is fully awake

·        Nighttime feeding is easier and it helps maintain your milk supply

·        Reduces chances of SIDS by 50%

·        No night time anxiety

·        Your attachment increases with your child

·        Infants go through several feelings such the warm touch of the mother, her movement, smell and comfort that would help in their overall development.

Below I have highlighted the myths people have about co-sleeping

Myth #1: Co-sleeping is unsafe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ says that making your baby sleep in your bed is a SID risk. But the definition of co-sleeping doesn’t always mean bed-sharing. The safest option is to have the baby in your room with an attached cot/bassinet so that you are always on alert and know when your baby needs you.

Myth #2: You feel like you are the only one.

Almost 90% of breast-feeding mother co-sleep with their children. So you are not the only parent practicing this style of sleeping.

Myth #3: Babies who co-sleep are spoilt.

Sleeping next to the mother doesn’t make a child spoilt. Sleeping next to the mother greatly improves the development of a child.

Myth #4: Babies are less independent.

On the contrary children who co-sleep are known to be more independent. They get all the support that they need from the parent to be independent.

Myth #5: Co-sleeping screws the romance between you and your partner.

You cannot blame the baby next to you for killing the romance. In fact, co-sleeping baby helps you find innovative places for having fun.

They say that babies take cues from your breathing and it helps them to regulate their breathing and bodily functioning better when they co-sleep with you. It is but natural because the baby is inside you for 9 months and follows your breathing rhythm and all of a sudden when it is outside you want to abandon it and make him sleep on his own. They feel comforted when their parents are around. It is easier for breast-feeding mothers to breast-feed and both baby and mother get enough rest by co-sleeping. A rested mommy is a happy mommy and a happy mommy ensures that her baby is happy too.

A parent should be allowed to decide whether or not he or she wants to co-sleep with their child and others shouldn’t be decision makers in this case. Please take note of the fact that you shouldn’t be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while co-sleeping, and you should not be smoking and if you are an obese parent who sleeps very deeply, you need to be very careful. A good alternative is to have a bassinet or cot at the same level of your bed so that your baby is at a safe distance and your baby feels secure sleeping next to you.

In the west they have a separate nursery for the baby and they use a “cry it out method” also known as the self soothing method, where the baby sleeps separately from the mother at night, cries on waking up and learns to self soothe. Studies have shown that this method only increases stress and anxiety in your child which leads to release of stress hormones in the body which can affect optimal development of the brain and reduced memory.

Tips for safe co-sleeping:

·        Baby should be placed on its back for co-sleeping

·        The surface should be firm and tight fitting

·        There should be nothing loose lying around like a soft blanket or stuffed animal near the babies face.

·        Ensure the environment is warm and not hot because babies can’t regulate their body temperature.

Weaning your child from the parent bed is completely your call. Don’t let people talk you into moving your child out of your room. You do it when you think it is right. 

Do I co-sleep? No. My kid co-sleeps. I co-lay-awake and get kicked in the spleen - anon