Is it okay to Co-sleep with a baby?
For many people, sharing a sleeping space with a caregiver, often the mother, has always been the way for infants. Routine co-sleeping is common and increases with breastfeeding. Research by PubMed Central shows that co-sleeping increases breastfeeding and protects against hypothermia. However, there is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome.
What is sudden infant death syndrome?
SIDS is an unexplained death that occurs during the sleep of a healthy baby who is less than one year old. While the main cause of SIDs is unknown, doctors associate it with problems of low oxygen levels for the baby. When the baby’s breathing canal is blocked, like when the baby sleeps face down or when co-sleeping and the space are too small, they may rebreathe exhaled carbon dioxide.
Babies who sleep on their backs have a lower risk for SIDS than babies sleeping on their sides or stomachs. Another safe way to prevent SIDS is ensuring the baby’s sleep surface is firm and covered with a fitted sheet. Adults’ beds are often soft and not advisable for the baby sleep to sleep on.
Benefits of co-sleeping with your baby
- Strengthening mother and baby bond
After birth, the mother and baby remain physiologically connected in complex ways, and when this bond is maintained, the baby grows in a good way. Breastfeeding is made easy and ideal for proper baby development and reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Babies wake up every one and a half hours or after two hours to feed, when babies sleep near their caregivers, they sleep well and wake up fewer times compared to babies far from their caregivers.
Feeding is not only what happens when the baby wakes up, when awake, the oxygen levels and heart rates also increase, which is good for brain development. The frequent waking stops the episodes of apnea which can be deadly when long.
Babies are not the only ones responsible for waking, mothers, too, wake the babies up. This happens when they are emotionally reassuring the baby. They hug, whisper, and inspect, increasing their heart rate and oxygen levels.
- Maintain the baby’s body temperature
Physical contact helps the baby to use energy efficiently and have less stress. Even babies who cannot be breastfed benefit from physical contact in cases of adoption.
Noteworthy, not all co-sleeping is safe. It can be sensitive when the parent uses drugs, or the duvet is too heavy.
A mum will reduce her stress for an infant when she wakes up and sees the baby sleeping safely. Some toddlers often have a fear of missing out. They feel comfortable in the proximity of their parents. Co-sleeping can reduce stress and the effort made in making one sleep alone.
Is it dangerous to co-sleep with your baby?
The United States Centers for Disease Control published some guidelines suggesting that babies sleep on a cot rather than sharing a bed with a parent. In some countries, boxes are issued to new moms to separate them from infants.
Instances, where co-sleeping is dangerous, include
- When the parent smokes, drinks, or uses drugs
- Presence of other children who can roll over the baby
- Heavy duvets or places where the baby can get trapped
However, Co-sleeping is not dangerous when the caregiver looks after the baby well. If you co-sleep, ensure you have enough space for yourself and the baby.
When should you stop co-sleeping with your baby?
Biologically, it is beneficial for an infant to sleep with their primary caregiver. Ensure your biological connection is in harmony for you to stop co-sleeping with your baby. Every baby will have different times to transition to their beds. By the time they are three years old, they can fully sleep on their bed and often will end up in your bed. LOL. Remember in parenting, time will always be on your side. Children will not hit 18 and still sleep with you.
Rules and tips for co-sleeping with your baby
Some health organizations discourage co-sleeping but support the parents who co-sleep with some guidelines. Here are some tips that can help you when co-sleeping with your baby;
- Keep pillows and blankets away from the baby and anything that could cover his head, causing overheating or obstruction of the nose.
- Keep pets away from the bed
- Do not have other children sleeping on the bed
- Ensure that the baby cannot be trapped or fall out of bed.
- Do not co-sleep in small spaces like on an armchair or a sofa.
- Ensure the space is hard and not soft enough to sunken once the baby lays on the bed.
- The bedding should be tightly tucked
Co-sleeping with your baby is a personal choice but I would advise you to read all the information available on the benefits and dangers of co-sleeping. Other factors that may influence co-sleeping are finances, whereby you may not have the financial ability to buy a baby’s crib plus all the bedding.