Co-sleeping with your baby seems like a natural thing to do. However, some impacts may appear – some are good, after all.
Is co-sleeping with your baby a good idea? What are the impacts both for the baby and you? More than anything, the decision is controversial. You should listen to both sides before deciding to co-sleep on the same bed with your newborn.
What is the safest for babies?
For the first year of their age – or at least the first 6 months – your baby should share a room with you. By sharing a room, it doesn’t have to be sleeping on the same bed.
You can put a cot next to yours, which helps you know when your baby is awake or asleep. Other than that, you can bring your kid to the bed when he or she is unsettled at night.
If you let the kid sleep with you all the time, it might take a while before he or she can sleep on a separate bed. Before making any decision, here are the co-sleeping pros and cons.
The benefits of co-sleeping
It might not be the best idea but co-sleeping comes with a series of benefits. Here are the benefits of co-sleeping:
1. The kid may feel more secure and safe.
2. Mothers can sleep more while breastfeeding.
3. People have done this for centuries.
The disadvantages of co-sleeping
However, just like any other decision, co-sleeping might result in several unwanted behaviors to your kids – and yourself. And if everything feels overwhelming then it might be when to stop co-sleeping. Those disadvantages include:
1. One bedtime is not enough.
2. Anxious behaviors without parents being nearby.
3. Sleep crutches.
4. Parents do not get enough sleep.
5. Increasing risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.
Final word
Your ancestors might practice co-sleeping and everything turned out fine. And you will follow this path, be sure that it is good for both you and the kid. Sooner or later, your kid will need to sleep on his or her own, however.
