Co-sleeping

Advantages of co-sleeping

Many parents either before their baby is born or after wonder whether or not to share their bed with their baby. There are many views on co-sleeping ranging from those who believe that it is NEVER safe to bring baby into your bed to those who believe it is the best way to sleep. The majority of people (as with all issues!) come in somewhere in the middle, putting their baby to sleep in his or her own cot for most nights but perhaps bringing him into their bed if he is having difficulty getting to sleep. For those who sleep this way every night co-sleeping can bring a number of distinct advantages.

It can help increase a mothers milk supply and means that feeding during the night is less disruptive, two factors which can help breastfeeding.

Many parents claim that their babies sleep better when close to them, perhaps because the slow breathing and close heartbeat of the parent helps the baby to relax and get back to sleep after he wakes during the night,.

Many people believe that co-sleeping helps parent- baby bonding in the earlu months of life.

Disadvantages of Co-sleeping

There are however some possible disadvantages to co-sleeping and some people who like the idea of co-sleeping may find that sharing their bed with their baby just isn?t for them.

All babies wake frequently during the night and may make jerky movements in their sleep, if you are a light sleeper then these movements may wake you up and your sleep could be worse rather then better than if your baby was in a crib. Similarly if you are overly worried about your baby being next to you concern may actually keep you awake or prevent you getting restful sleep.

You should NEVER share your bed with a baby if you have been drinking or taking drugs or medication (as these make you less aware of your surroundings). You are also advised to avoid sharing a bed with your baby if you or your partner smoke.

Some Parents may find that they feel as though they do not have enough opportunity for intimacy, especially as your baby gets older this may be a problem.

Some children love sharing a bed so much that they are very reluctant to sleep on their own. Although others may have no problem (this depend son the personality of your child).

Is it safe?

Most people considering co-sleeping with their baby will ask themselves “is co-sleeping safe?”. There is no definite yes or no answer to this question, for every possible safety issue put forward there are two sides to the argument. Many doctors and health organizations advise against co-sleeping as a matter of course. Both the U.S consumer Product safety commission and the American Academy or paediatricians advise strongly against adults sharing a bed with a child under two years old, giving three major hazards that babies could face.

The adult may roll on top of the child or suffocate it.

The baby could be suffocated or strangled between the mattress and a wall or a night table.

The baby could be suffocated on a soft mattress, pillows or duvet.

However advocates of co-sleeping argue that parents who co-sleep are sufficiently aware of the child during the night, even when sleeping, that they will never roll on top of their baby and that with the right precautions there a baby is unlikely to suffocate on adult bedding.

There are some doctors who link co-sleeping with a rise in the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death) but still others who claim that the risk is reduced because the child uses the parents breathing pattern as a “model” and is relaxed and calmed by it.

Making co-sleeping safer

There are a few precautions that you can take to ease your mind about co-sleeping.

Always leave your baby's head uncovered

Make sure there is no opening in the headboard that your baby can slide through

make sure there is no gap between your mattress and bed frame

Never leave a baby sleeping alone in an adult bed

Do not use large pillows or quilts

Make sure your baby cannot roll off your bed onto the floor

Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back