As everything has its pros and cons, in this article Kayla will be sharing with moms the upside and downside of co-sleeping with babies. After reading this you will also know the best and safest way to co-sleep with your young one.
Benefits of co-sleeping
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It makes breastfeeding SO much easier
As a mom, you’re tired as it is. Having to breastfeed in the middle of the night adds to that exhaustion. But it is a little easier to breastfeed if you’re bed-sharing because you don’t have to get up or leave the room.
2. Better sleep for mom
This is one of the best benefits of co-sleeping. I’m sure many people are confused by this because you would think that sharing a bed with a little person that kicks and turns and cries, would make you sleep worse. But for a lot of moms, that’s simply not the case.
3. Faster response time – better sleep for baby
Being able to get to your baby faster is good for a few reasons. One, you don’t have to fully get up and walk around, so it’s easier to get back to sleep after comforting your baby.
4. Room sharing can reduce the risk of SIDS
Studies have shown that sleeping in the same room as your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS significantly. However, studies also show that bedsharing can increase the risk of SIDS.
Disadvantages of co-sleeping
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Co-sleeping in an unsafe manner can increase the risk of SIDS
This is a hard one because there are studies that show that co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS and there are studies that suggest the opposite. One thing for certain is that co-sleeping in unsafe places, such as the couch or a chair, definitely increases the risk. But some researchers say that co-sleeping, with safety precautions, reduces the risk of SIDS.
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Less intimacy
It is definitely hard to maintain the same sex life you had prior to having a baby, especially if that baby is in your bed! There’s just something that doesn’t feel right while you’re trying to be intimate with your baby right next to you.
3. It makes for a harder transition
When the time comes to stop co-sleeping, it’s going to be a much harder transition than if you would have trained them to sleep separately in the first place.
Tips for co-sleeping safely
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Try half & half
This is an excellent way of compromising! You can put the baby to sleep in their separate room or bed, and then bring them into your bed halfway through the night when they wake up.
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Safe co-sleeping
If you do decide to co-sleep, do it safely! A few things you should be doing to ensure safe bed sharing is to sleep on a firm surface, with plenty of room for your baby. Don’t give your baby pillows, blankets, or toys.
“Don’t ever bed share if you’re under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications that affect your sleep or motor skills,” urges Kayla.
