Good sleep habits in baby: Co-Sleeping Vs. Sleeping Alone

It is common in India and in many other cultures around the world for babies to co-sleep with their parents till they are ready to move to thrown room. At the same time, in many cultures babies start sleeping in their own rooms right from a few weeks old. 

Whether to let baby share bed with you or to have a separate bed for the baby is completely parent’s personal choice. There is no right or wrong decision, whatever works for you is right for you. But you should weigh the pros and cons of co-sleeping before making the decision. 

 

Read more on baby sleep patterns here.

Advantages of your baby sleeping in the same bed as you

Off late voices in favour of co-sleeping have been becoming louder. It is considered to be helpful in healthy growth of baby. 

  • Baby feels secure : Your baby will know you are there and can respond emotionally and physiologically in potentially beneficial ways.

  • Time for bonding : If you work during the day co-sleeping will give you extra time to spend with your baby. The closeness felt during the night can help create a stronger relationship between you and your child.

  • Night-time feedings : Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents tend to breastfeed more, but disrupt their mother’s sleep less. Mothers who get used to nursing sideways can help the baby to latch on and then drift back to sleep.

  • Longer sleep for baby : Some studies have claimed that babies who sleep in the same bed are believed to sleep for longer periods of time during the night.

  • No need to buy crib/cot : If you decide to co-sleep with your baby, you do not have to invest in a bassinet or crib/cot, which baby will outgrow in a few months/ years. You can graduate the child to her own big bed after few years.

 

Disadvantages of your baby sleeping in the same bed as you :

  • You may not sleep as well with your baby in bed with you : Some parents feel nervous having the baby on their bed as they are always worried about the baby getting hit accidentally.

  • Difficult to sleep with someone else : If your baby is used to falling asleep next to you, he or she may not settle if looked after by someone else and this may be a habit which is hard to break.

  • Transition to own bed difficult : Baby may not want to sleep on her own bed when the time comes.

  • Your relationship with each other :Intimacy in bed between you and your partner may become practically impossible.

  • Adult beds not meant for babies : Adult beds are not designed with infant safety in mind, so one should never let a baby sleep alone on an adult bed.

  • Risk of SIDS: Many experts believed that co-sleeping might increase risk of SIDS. Read more about SIDS and its causes

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

 



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