4. Side rails are fitted on either side of the bed to prevent the baby from rolling off the bed. What are the In stages three and four, arousal is more difficult during a dangerous apnea (where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing). But when children sleep beside their parents, such instances are rare, as being beside their parents makes them feel reassured. 3. Co-sleeping may also promote long-term emotional health in infants as they grow up, because the practice makes babies feel secure and comforted. This early nurturing can carry over into later childhood and adulthood in the form of what we call well-being.”, Children of all ages can benefit from this feeling of increased security, said O’Connor. Satisfaction of infants’ and children’s need for attach… Infant enclosures are placed on the adult bed to prevent rollover, wedging and suffocation. Assuming that their young child has fallen asleep, when couples start discussing their problems, they let the secret out to their child as well. * Arundhati Swamy is a counsellor and the Head of Parent Engagement Programs at ParentCircle. Search for: Benefits of Co-Sleeping With Your Baby February 6, 2019 October 16, 2020 Once you have a child, your whole life is going to change. "There is an instinctive need for the mother to be close to her baby," says Cynthia Epps, M.S., a certified lactation educator at the Pump Station in Santa Monica, Calif. Here are a few benefits of co-sleeping with your child: However, in most Western countries, the practice of co-sleeping with children is frowned upon and considered emotionally unhealthy. The notion that earlier experiences affect later functioning is the sine qua non of psychological and development theory. 1. Bed-sharing families don’t run the risk of crib-related accidents because babies … More: A Co-Sleeper’s Guide to Getting It On. You may be creating many conscious bonding moments with your baby, through just making her laugh or taking photographs of her development. Baby Names That Mean ‘Warrior’ for Strong Little Girls, I’ve Never Bought My Kid a Christmas Present — & That’s OK, Chrissy Teigen Says She’ll Never Be Pregnant Again, Ashley Graham Just Revealed Her Favorite Sexy Nursing Bra — & It’s on Sale at Nordstrom, What I’ll Lose When My Son Stops Believing in Santa Claus, Ivanka Trump’s Kids Are Leaving a Permanent Mark on the White House. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room-sharing, preferably until the baby turns 1 but at least for the first six months, stating that this decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent. The lowest SIDS rates in the world coincide with high rates of co-sleeping. 3. More: Actually, Sleeping With My 5-Year-Old Is Pretty Great. Co-sleeping infants also get … According to La Leche League, if you are a nonsmoker, sober and unimpaired and breastfeeding and your baby is healthy and full-term, on their back and lightly dressed and you both are on a safe surface, “your baby in bed is at no greater risk for SIDS than if he’s nearby in a crib.”, More: I Hated Co-Sleeping, but I Did It Anyway, Co-sleeping makes those regular nighttime feeds easier simply because nursing moms don’t have to leave their beds. Even if they don’t share the bed but sleep on different cots in the same room, they feel secure, loved and connected. All these positive effects help children in growing up into well-balanced individuals. Co-sleeping: the basics The safest place for your baby to sleep in their first six months is in a separate Moses basket or cot in the same room as you. Positive effect on emotional health: Young children who co-sleep with their parents grow up into individuals who have higher self-esteem and are less anxious. “I believe it’s most likely due to the increased bonding/attachment to the child’s primary caregiver,” she tells SheKnows. Increased sleep problems: Children who tend to co-sleep with their parents report increased instances of sleep problems than children who sleep alone. Co-sleeping is a hot topic of discussion among parents with many arguments on either side. Increased dependence on parents: It is generally seen that young children who co-sleep with their parents during the night are unable to sleep on their own even during the daytime. Use this Coupon code: P3BFV4FB74JV. It is still socially taboo to admit that you share sleep with toddlers or older children, but research shows that the taboo is unfounded. Co-sleeping is the single most gratifying thing I have done as a father. A good friend of mine once told me, “Don’t ever let your kids in your bed, because you will never get them out.” That advice stayed with me. Generally, co-sleeping makes for the ultimate night-time comfort for everyone involved. One of the benefits of co-sleeping is that it puts babies at lower risk of crib-related injuries and fatalities. Co-sleeping is defined as parent(s) and infants sleeping together in an adult bed. Hope you liked this article. If your toddler is struggling with sleep you can develop a sleep routine. Children who cosleep are generally more independent and secure, develop close and lasting bonds to their families, and report more happiness and general life satisfaction than children who sleep alone. In her article, ‘The Dangers of Co-Sleeping With an Older Child and 6 Strategies to Stop It’, published in the Huffington Post (July 14, 2015), Dr Kate Roberts highlights some of the dangers of co-sleeping. “I set up a basket with a changing pad, diapers and wipes by my bed. Becoming privy to parent’s problems: In today’s busy schedule, a few minutes before falling asleep is the only time when couples can talk to each other about family or other issues. There is no need to feel guilty — for the missed chores or the fact you napped beside your toddler. This leads to children learning better sleep habits. 3. I come from a family of co-sleepers, so it was more of an instinct than a choice — and one my husband was fully on board with (I’d say this is crucial if you want your relationship to survive). Also, when they sleep with their parents, it helps them open up and speak about the happenings of the day or any other specific problem they may have. 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