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Understanding Co-Sleeping: Pros and Cons of a Family Bed!

co-sleeping

Overview

As hard as it very well might be to envision, there exists a somewhat essential nurturing issue that routinely produces a debate about whether to have your kid sleep in a similar bed as you and your accomplice.

Fortunately (or sadly, depending on your point of view), there is no consensus on which viewpoint is the “correct” one. What’s more, there’s almost no genuine logical or medical information supporting either position.

Typical Issues in Family Bed Conversations

  • Supporters of co-sleeping argue that in many countries, parents and children share a bed. They believe that forcing kids to be independent too early goes against human evolution. They suggest that children need to feel secure and believe their needs will be met before becoming self-sufficient. Children who co-sleep often become more autonomous, secure, and confident.
  • Critics, however, argue that what works in other countries may not apply in the US. In the US, early independence is emphasized, especially if both parents work and children attend daycare.
  • The children who co-sleep, contrary to popular belief, sleep lighter than children who sleep alone (blankets rustling and parents turning over in bed wake them up). However, light sleeping isn’t always a negative thing. Indeed, there appears to be a link between lighter sleep and a decreased risk of Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • Even the most soundly sleeping children will wake up every three or four hours to take a brief glance around the room. After a minute or two, the great majority (about 70%) ease themselves back to sleep. However, around 30% of parents or guardians will find something they really must play with in order to get their baby back to sleep.
  • Clearly, it’s significantly simpler for a nursing mother to reach across her bed for the child than to get up and lurch a few doors down for breastfeeding. According to some studies, this may encourage women to breastfeed for extended periods of time. However, problems occur when dads feel displaced by the nursing infant and believe that the only place to get a decent night’s sleep is on the sofa.

The Pros of Co-sleeping

  • Try not to be humiliated. You’re not being over-caring, or overindulgent—it’s a decision made by a large number of wise guardians.
  • The practice has a long history behind it. For millennia, children have shared a bed with their parents in various societies throughout the world.
  • This allows nursing women to obtain more sleep. Some nursing mothers find it simpler to keep their kids close for overnight feedings so that neither the mother nor the child loses sleep.
  • It gives youngsters a sense of safety and security. Some parents think that isolating a socially active youngster by sending him to bed alone at night is cruel. Others just believe that sleeping near their parents gives youngsters a stronger sense of security and well-being.
  • Ensure that your bed is big enough to fit everyone. (But no waterbeds, because the infant may roll between you and the mattress.) Put the bed against the wall and have the infant sleep on the wall side, or if your loved one is sleeping on the outer edge, acquire a guardrail. And remember overly soft mattresses¸ comforters, and pillows may pose a risk of suffocation.
  • Think long and hard before you start this practice. Once your baby has been sleeping in your bed for six to eight months, it’s going to be awfully hard to get your loved one out if you change your mind.

The Cons of Co-sleeping

  • Always having a parent around at bedtime can become a strong “sleep onset association,” also called a “sleep crutch” – anything we do for or to our kid in order to assist the child falling asleep at the start of sleep. This sleep association is often referred to as sleep props.
  • Some children will grow to expect interactions like back massaging, patting, and being held to fall asleep, in addition to establishing the sleep crutch. ” They may be mistaken as nervous or anxious because they struggle to go sleep without a parent nearby, therefore they show worrying behaviors to persuade a parent to stay close at night.
  • Many parents are concerned that if the entire family sleeps on the same bed, they will accidentally roll over their sleeping infant. This is an absolute possibility and can be a cause of concern.
  • In the case where either parent is a habitual drinker or takes any medicine that may make you difficult to awaken, or on the other hand in case you’re by and large such a sound sleeper that you’re conscious that you may accidentally stroll over the top of your child. Although, it is a rare situation.
  • Evenings are often the only time a couple with children has to be alone together. However, when you share a bed with your children, they physically separate you from your partner. There isn’t much time or room for intimacy because of the co-sleeping situation.
  • Children of various ages require varying amounts of sleep, and their bedtimes reflect this. When parents and older children share a bed, they often turn in much sooner than they would want, owing to the needs of the younger children. This situation can quickly become aggravating for all parties concerned.

There is no proof that sleeping with your infant accelerates the bonding and attachment process.

Conclusion

If you choose to co-sleep, ensure it meets both your child’s and your own needs. For instance, if you’re a single parent or your partner is often away, avoid using co-sleeping solely to combat loneliness.
Kids who start co-sleeping early may not naturally outgrow it, it can become a habit.
Long-term consequences may include social difficulties as the child gets older.
They might miss out on activities like sleepovers, summer camps, and overnight trips.
If you co-sleep to help your child sleep better, it’s not too late to transition them to their own bed.
With patience and consistency, you can teach your child to sleep in their own bed within a few days.

Citation

https://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/co-sleeping/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-family-bed/

https://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/issues/sleep-mistakes-baby-how-to-get-baby-to-sleep/

https://www.lulisleep.com/blog/2020/2/19/sleep-crutches

Featured pic: Christmas photo created by gpointstudio – www.freepik.com

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Navjot Singh
I'm an independent healthcare analyst with a passion for exploring and researching overall well-being. From cutting-edge medications to time-tested traditions, I delve into various perspectives. My extensive analysis covers health, alternative treatments, nutrition, fitness, herbs, and parenting. Every write-up on Bloomposts is churned thoroughly from authentic & published mediums. My aim is to provide valuable information for those who seek it. Now, let's dive into the articles - I hope you find them enjoyable and valuable.
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