The practice of co-sleeping, when parents share the bed with their child, has always been a controversial topic. Supporters believe it is better both for the infants and for the parents, as they have complete and immediate control on the baby’s needs during the night, while other studies have shown that co-sleeping could potentially be one of the causes of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
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Why do parents choose co-sleeping?
Some of the benefits of co-sleeping might be:
- Co-sleeping makes breastfeeding easier. It is already quite difficult for new moms to get a good night sleep during the first months of their children and having to wake up and walk at regular intervals to breastfeed does not help. Co-sleeping allows the mother to breastfeed her baby easier and quicker, directly in bed, simply rolling comfortably on one side.
- Co-sleeping helps mother and child to develop the same sleep and awakening patterns, which also help both parents to sleep better. They might wake up more frequently, but there isn’t the stress of getting in and out of bed every time the baby needs them.
- Co-sleeping might result in more independent children, although many disagree on that. Most researches show that children who co-slept grow up more self reliant, independent and less fearful.
Is co-sleeping safe?
Are the above benefits worth the potential risks related to co-sleeping? Despite the pros, many parents do not support co-sleeping as they find it to be dangerous for the baby, especially for infants, with the risk of SIDS. Main concern being the chance the parents roll over onto the baby, or the baby got caught in the sheets or pillows during the night.
That said, supporters of this practice said that it is very unlikely to happen as parents are conscious of the baby’s presence even when asleep.
However, if you are either a supporter of co-sleeping or you are thinking to experiment it, there are a couple of tips you might want to consider for the safety of your child.
Choosing the right bed, for example, is important for the baby. At www.bedstar.co.uk you can find different solutions suitable for co-sleeping, various beds and mattresses which might work better for you and your infant.
If you are not a co-sleeping supporter or you think it is time for your child to transitioning out of your bed, you might want to choose a crib to put next to the bed. You can even buy a device which allows attaching the crib to the bed, to simulate co-sleeping while eliminating the potential risk of rolling over your child.
When considering co-sleeping, try and think about the above pros and cons, if it is something that might suit your needs and your baby’s sleeping pattern. Remember it is a very personal choice and it might not work for everyone, it depends on how both parents feel about that and how the baby reacts.
He or she might sleep better when feeling safely hold and cuddled between his parents, others might wake up crying more often. It is a personal decision which you might want to talk to your child’s doctor as well.
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