Major Pros And Cons Of Letting Your Child Sleep With You

There are several cultures and countries across the world, like Central America, Asia, and Southern Europe, among others, where co-sleeping is considered perfectly natural. In fact, many people have recently started speaking of how co-sleeping should be encouraged in families worldwide. But, there are several risks associated with it such as suffocation that gives parents a scare. Of course, both co-sleeping and independent sleeping have their own share of pros and cons. As an expecting or a new parent, these thoughts might have crossed your mind. Let us discuss these in detail to help you make a more informed choice.

Pros Of Co-Sleeping

1. There are many who believe that sleeping with parents can help a baby have a better sleep.

2. If you are working parents, co-sleeping will give you an opportunity to build a bond with your little one after a long day of separation.

3. In the short run, co-sleeping might solve your baby’s sleep-related issues since it can temporarily suppress his/her sleeping troubles.

4. If a breastfeeding mom aligns her sleeping routine with the angel, it might help make space for more sleep and easier nursing.

As per a study, co-sleeping helped the breastfeeding moms and their babies to sleep for a longer duration. But, the same was not true for bottle-fed infants and their mothers. While breastfeeding moms slept longer when they started co-sleeping, bottle-feeding mothers were not influenced by it (1).

Another research found that sleeping with parents did not help fix the underlying problems that cause sleep-related problems. And, thus, limiting the benefits of co-sleeping (2).

Cons Of Co-Sleeping

A pediatrician from the Yale University School of Medicine mentioned how experts worry about the possibility of suffocation or accidental strangulation when it comes to co-sleeping (3). Their concern lies with how parents might not be fully aware of their movements when in deep sleep. Here are some of the potential risks (4):

1. Overlying by the parents.

2. The little one getting entrapped between the pillow, mattress, or other things.

3. The baby gets stuck in one of the bed railings, especially since these beds are not designed keeping in mind the safety of a child.

4. Suffocation on a waterbed.

5. The angel getting trapped in the bed linen.

A study was conducted between the years 2004 and 2012, retrieving data from around 24 states. As per the data obtained, it was found that co-sleeping or bedsharing poses a significant risk when it comes to death among infants while sleeping (5). The risk increases if the adult has had medication, drugs, and alcohol or if he/she is a smoker. The primary reason being that these factors can dull one’s awareness (6).

Sometimes Or Never?

So, what does this mean for you? Do you completely give up on the idea of sleeping with your little one? According to the University of Notre Dame, there exists a way in which you can sleep with your angel safely. Here are some of the suggestions that you can incorporate to strike a balance between independent sleeping and co-sleeping (7):

1. Make sure that the baby sleeps on his/her back.

2. Let the little one sleep on a different surface next to the parents, perhaps like a co-sleeper attached to the bed.

3. Don’t put the baby to sleep in a place where an adult is unaware of his/her presence. If possible, vocalize about the little one’s presence so that both the parents are completely alert.

4. Don’t sleep next to the angel when you are intoxicated or are under medication as these can dull your senses.

5. Don’t place the baby next to his/her siblings, especially if he/she has not even turned one.

6. Keep the infant’s sleeping area free of soft toys or pillows to avoid any accidental suffocation.

Don’t stress so much; just incorporate these tips into your sleeping routine. Everything will be alright. All the best!

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