Many parents try to co-sleep with their children. It is also known as a family bed or sleep sharing, which involves keeping your babies or children in the same bed with you at night. In many countries outside of the U.S., co sleeper is actually quite a normal practice. It is unknown how many families practice co sleeping in the United States, but it is known to be a rising trend among parents. There is one national survey that states, “about 13 percent of parents practice co sleeping, and that number has doubled recently.” There are some families that do not agree with sleep sharing, but they occasionally co sleep with their children when necessary.
Preparations for Co-Sleeping
You may want to keep your baby with you at night for snuggling with each other. It is important to remember that newborn babies are in a stage of wiggly toss-and-turn, and they usually turns quite fast. Because of this, the co sleeper will need to:
- Be in Agreement with Your Partner
If you are thinking about co sleeper, it is important to have a discussion with your partner to see if heis open to the idea. Sleeping with children means less intimacy and will need to find creative ways to continue your romantic life. Bed sharing with your kids may keep you two close to the baby, but could possibly push your two apart.
- Be Clear About the Risk Factors
There are a few risk factors of bed sharing with babies. Don’t sleep with your baby if you are a smoker or if your partner smokes. Never co-sleep if you are under the influence of alcohol or medications making you sleepy. If you have a premature infant that was low in birth weight, co-sleeping is not recommended because these babies are at higher risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Another risk factor is one or both parents being overtired or suffering from sleep disorders likeapnea. People who sleep very deeply run the risk of rolling onto their baby.
There are some other creative ways to share sleep with your baby if you do have the above high risk factors. You can place the baby’s crib in your bedroom, and use a newbornbassinet or a baby bed attachment that attaches to the side of your own bed.
Pros and Cons of Co-Sleeping
Co sleeper can be fairly normal in some families, while is it scientific? Below are some pros and cons of co sleeper, read through then make your own choice.
Pros of Co-Sleeping
- Strengthen Family Bond
Families spend much more time away from each other in today’s busy lifestyle. Co-sleeping is a good option for families to reconnect. Babies snuggling in with daddy can make for a good bonding connection similar to a mom who is nursing the baby.
- Make Night Feedings Easier
Breastfeeding is much easier for moms practicing co-sleeping. Moms who breastfeed find that, they don’t need to awaken much for feedingsif the baby lay on their side. Just put the baby to your breast and fall back to sleep. Bottle feeding is also easier. All you have to do is to get up, warm the bottle and lay with your baby while he or she is feeding.
- Ensure Your Baby a Better Sleep
Babies who sleep with their parents can fall asleep faster and tend to wake less at night. Even if they do wake up, they tend to fall back to sleep easier.
Cons of Co-sleeping
- Wake Your Baby Up More Easily
Some people say that co-sleeping actually makes their baby tend to wake up more easily for feedings. Your baby may come to expect night feedings even when they are ready to be weaned and this may make weaning more difficult and need longer time. Even babies who are breastfed may continue to wake up to nurse after weaning time because they can smell the milk in your breast.
- Affect Your Relationships
Parents, as a co sleeper, may feel like they have little time for themselves. It can affect parents’sex life or even just the cuddle time. While some other co-sleeping parents figure out more different ways to be intimate and have privacy time.
How to Overcome This Problem? When you share sleep with children, it is helpful to make plans for free time with your partner rather than having spontaneity. When planning, you have to take opinions and feeling of you two into consideration. Moreover, you may find it a new and interesting adventure when planning the intimacy. It could be something that you begin to look forward to.
Co-Sleeping Safety Guidelines
Prior to co-sleeping with your baby, you will want to take some precautions to make sure the co sleeper is safe. Some of the co sleeping safety guidelines including:
1. Have a Firm Mattress
Soft mattresses could cause your baby to suffocate or get overheated. Make sure the mattress fits tightly up against the headboard with no gaps or space to trap your baby. Babies from 3 to 10 months are at highest risk for entrapment or suffocation.
2. Use Minimal and Light Bedding
If you have a baby in bed with you, do not use goose down duvets or heavy thick comforters. Babies need to be kept cool and have good air flowaround their faces. Most cases of SIDS occur from high levels of carbon dioxide being re-inhaled into the lungs. Keeping the baby’s bodytemperature low helps stimulate the breathing reflex. This is most important for the baby’s first 3 months. Use only light blankets and check on baby to make sure he or she is not buried under the covers.
3. Do Not Co Sleep on a Sofa with Your Baby
If you want share a bed with your baby, keep in mind that do not co sleep on a sofa you’re your baby. Babies can slip into the crack of the back of the couch and/or the cushions. Also, never co sleeps in a waterbed with a baby. It is just too soft for babies that may get the baby trapped into deep crevices around the frame.
4. Make Sure Your Baby Doesn’t Get Hot
Raising baby’s body temperature can make them sleep too deeply to forget breathing. Keep them cool, but warm. Dress them in light sleep clothing and use only light blankets. Whatever temperature makes you feel cozy is best for your baby.
5. Never Let Baby Sleep Next to a Toddler
Very small children do not know enough to watch for a baby sleeping next to them. They sleep heavy and may roll on top of the baby, cover baby’s mouth with a body part or toss a blanket over baby’s face. Keeping babies and toddlers separated with a parent in between can be a good option.
6. Do Not Let Baby Sleep Alone in the Bed
If your baby is sleeping and you are not in bed yet, keep him or her with you until you go to bed. It is very easy for babies to roll off the bed or into pillows. Never block baby in with pillows or have them sleep on pillows. They can smother this way. Keep a basinet or baby cot in the room to put baby in if you need to get out of bed.
More tips and guidelines of co sleeper safety are shared in the following video: