If we were to go back to our roots as Asians, we might find that there was no such term as co-sleeping. That’s because babies always slept close to their mothers and there was nothing really special about that. You can even call it, if you will, an ‘organic’ practice.
When advocates of co-sleeping come together on this matter, they have naturally simple and uncomplicated reasons to conclude that co-sleeping is the best for their babies. The following are some of the reasons for this.
Breastfeeding made easier
While being a new mum can be a joyful experience, it is also an exhausting one as well. Taking care of a baby and going about the household chores will take a toll on a new mum and she will need some quality rest whenever she can get some. This is especially so during the night, but the thing is, babies, feed at night too. In regards to this, breastfeeding your baby (the best gift you can give to your child), is easier and simpler if the baby slept with you, in comparison with having to get out of bed and scramble into another room, feed baby, pacify him to go back to sleep and then make your way back to bed, not to forget too, that you’d have to repeat the whole cycle a few more times during the night.
Helps babies sleep better
Sleeping with mum and dad on the bed gives a baby a sense of security and comfort. They tend to fall asleep more easily and go back to sleep more quickly when they wake up during the night too. In the long run, this means more restful sleep during the night for both baby and parents. Plus, for babies who spend the day at a daycare center, it’s a way to regain a sense of closeness and intimacy with their parents.
Physiologically beneficial
Some studies on co-sleeping point to the fact that infants who sleep near to parents have more stable temperatures, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone. On this same page of the matter, co-sleeping babies seem to grow up with higher self-esteem and experience less anxiety. They are more comfortable with affection and seem to do better in school too.
Pacifying made easier
Crying is a way for babies to get their parent’s attention – it’s a kind of inborn ‘signalling system’ that is meant to alert a parent to ensure that the baby receives the care he needs.
However, prolonged crying is stressful for other family members. The sooner the baby’s needs are met, the more rest the baby and the entire family can have, and the more energy they will have for the next day. In this regard, a mother sleeping next to her baby can utilize the instinctive response a new mother has to her baby’s first whimper, thus preventing the need for the hard crying that is so stressful to the baby and all other members of the family. It’s easy to see in this way why sleeping close to one’s baby is naturally the best thing for the whole family.
The disadvantages of co-sleeping
As we all evolve with the times, however, respected and trusted authorities in children’s health and well-being such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have found that while babies may sleep close to their parents, they should not be in the same bed. The concern is that a parent could inadvertently trap a baby in between the bed-sheets or in the space between the bed and the wall. So, you can still experience most of the pros if you opt to share a room instead.
When it comes to all the cons of co-sleeping, anti-sleep-sharers point to the following concerns:
Possibly less sleep for baby and you.
Infants are known to toss, turn, burp, and cry in bed. These can be pretty tiring if you’re a light sleeper who’s trying to get some much-needed rest. ( Being a new mum, you’ll need that rest!). Plus, owing to your super-attentive tendencies as a mother, you would probably find yourself picking the baby up at the first whimper)! This may do more harm than good when it comes to (both of) you get a good night’s sleep.
Less chance to get any loving going on!
Let’s face the fact, if you don’t mind or find it perfectly acceptable to let it all hang out with a pair of innocent yet cheeky little eyes staring at you ( and the sound of cooing and gurgling going on in the background), well, kudos to you! However, if you’re like most couples, passion isn’t going to flow freely unless either baby or you are in another room.
Potential problems with independence later on.
Experts’ opinions split on this one – While some argue that sleep sharing promotes independence by making baby feel secure, others insist that it just isn’t so and that the longer you wait to move the baby out of your room, the harder it gets for the child to feel secure and comfortable in their room later on.
Feeling safe and secure
A baby or toddler who is cared for during the night, as well as the day, receives constant reassurance of love and support, in comparison to some who have had to face feelings of fear or even abandonment when night time comes and it’s time to sleep. Children who have felt safe through the night, as well as the day with attentive parent/parents close by, have better chances of becoming adults who are calmer and more collected when having to face problems in their lives. They are more open to helping others too.
