Pros and Cons Of Co-Sleeping With Baby
There are lots of pros and cons of co-sleeping with baby, One of the most discussed topics in parenting is co-sleeping between parent and child. The lay literature has popularized this topic and highlighted its pros and cons of co-sleeping with a baby.
When a little one joins your family, it’s joyful and exciting and you want to cuddle with them at night. However, it might be hazardous for them. Parents and pediatricians often wonder if they should sleep with their babies or not.
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) says that the safest sleeping arrangement for all babies 0–12 months old is room sharing, not sharing the same bed.
In the United States, Approximately 3500 infants die every year as a result of sleep-related causes, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ill-defined deaths, and accidents involving suffocation and strangulation in bed.
Co-sleeping may work well for some parents, but it is a failure for others. If you aren’t sure whether you should sleep with your baby, don’t worry. I’ve come up with the pros and cons of co-sleeping with a baby.
You might have also experienced baby jumping in sleep, You may read more about it here
Parents must take extra precautions when it comes to sleeping arrangements for children because of the inherent risks involved.
Now let’s talk about the
Pros and cons of co-sleeping with baby
Pros Of Co-sleeping With Baby
- Co-sleeping reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in infants by as much as 50% by keeping them from entering too deep sleep states.
- Co-sleeping makes it easier to gently place a sleeping infant back to sleep.
- Researchers have shown that co-sleeping can help prolong breastfeeding, as women who co-sleep are more likely to breastfeed at night and continue to do so for longer.
- Babies who co-sleep can easily access their mothers’ breasts for feeding. It also encourages the mother to breastfeed.
- Co-sleeping may help infants fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
- Studies suggest that co-sleeping reduces the chance of nighttime separation anxiety.
- Co-sleeping may help tired parents sleep better because they aren’t constantly looking over or worrying about them.
- Research suggests that infants who sleep with their parents have more stable temperatures, regular heart rhythms, and fewer breathing pauses compared to newborns who sleep alone.
Cons Of Co-sleeping With Baby
- According to experts, sleeping on the same bed with your baby is unsafe, but sharing a room has its advantages.
- Having loose bedding, pillows, and adult bed mattresses on the bed can lead to babies suffocating.
- Once a child gets used to sleeping with the parents, it will be difficult for him or her to sleep independently at a later stage.
- Co-sleeping with parents and then sleeping in a crib alone can cause separation anxiety.
- Having a baby who kicks, turns, and cries during the night can make it difficult for you to get the rest you need as a parent.
- When a child needs full parental involvement for nighttime sleep, he or she will often require some level of involvement for daytime sleep.
- In cases where either parent smokes, drinks alcohol, or uses drugs, co-sleeping poses considerable risks to health.
- Co-sleeping with a baby decreases intimacy between couples. If you are missing the romantic spark, prepare your baby’s room.
- In an adult bed, there are no guard rails. If a baby reaches the edge of the bed in the dark, the baby may fall.
Read : When Should A Son Stop Sleeping With His Mother?
Also Read: Can Babies Sleep On Their Side?
Final Thought
After we discussed the pros and cons of co-sleeping with a baby, it’s time for our final thoughts.
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong – everything depends on what works best for your family. Every baby and family is different, so you’ll need to make a decision that works for your circumstances. It is crucial that you take the time to weigh the pros and cons of co-sleeping so that you can make the best decision for your family.
Having a baby sleep with their parents can be a wonderful experience. But your child will soon need her own bed. You need to make decisions based on what is safe for you and your baby rather than listening to other people.
