Your Newborn and Cosleeping
Everything You Need To Know About Sleep Sharing
When deciding whether to sleep share with your baby, it’s important
to take look at the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Whether
you choose to co-sleep, that is to sleep in the same bed as your baby,
or just sleep in the same room, is a decision that needs to be reached
at mutually. A partner’s reluctance to do so can impair the benefits
of sleep sharing. Remember, if you’re unsure that cosleeping is
a right fit for your family, run a trial period and see how it goes.
Pros
Breastfeeding will be significantly easier on Mom
Picture getting out of bed, plodding down the hall and sinking into a
chair to nurse to your baby’s content, putting him back to bed and
wearily treading back up the hall. Now imagine simply exposing your breast
and lying there as your baby feeds. It’s a beautiful thing.
Sleep sharing and breastfeeding is also beneficial to your child. The National Institute of Health has shown that babies who sleep share will breastfeed twice as many times and three times longer than their single sleeper counterparts. This means your baby’s benefiting much more from the immune-building nutrients of your breast milk and will grow in health. And don’t worry about losing sleep during these frequent feedings; studies show breastfeeding moms who sleep share actually catch more dreamtime.
Healthier baby
Studies show that babies who sleep share grow up to be more confident,
independent and are more comfortable with their peers. They also tend
to cry less during the night and sleep better, which may signify more
energy to grow.
SIDS?
There is disagreement between studies on whether sleep sharing lessens
the risks of SIDS. A mother’s intuitive vigilance may alert her
to a child’s distress. The snag lies in the type of bedding found
in a couple’s bed: comforters and fluffy pillows can be hazardous
if they should tangle around a baby or block their breathing.
Cons
Say goodbye to your sex-life as you know it
Spontaneous lovemaking can be awkward at best with a baby in the room.
It’s possible that one or each partner could resent this change.
Safety
The danger of rolling over your baby does exist, but is minimal. It seems
that mothers instinctively sense their baby’s presence and are careful
not to trespass. Don’t put your baby on a pillow, as she could roll
off or be smothered. Also, you’ll have to arrange a fort of pillows
at the bottom of the bed and put a guardrail along the side should you
leave the bed anytime through the night. Beware of fluffy comforters that
could suffocate your sleeping babe.
When not to sleep share
If you have a sleep disorder, smoke or drink frequently, it’s advised
that you do not sleep share. Sleep sharing and smoking increases the risk
of SIDS. If you have a sleep disorder or are drunk, you’ll be too
groggy to be aware of your baby’s presence, and could put him in
danger.
Also, don’t allow your older child to sleep share if you have a baby in the bed. Toddlers especially can wriggle through the night and may kick or unintentionally suffocate the baby.
Waterbeds are very dangerous, as a baby should sleep on a somewhat firm mattress. Your child could also get trapped between the mattress and the bed frame.
Best of All Worlds
A bassinet
is the perfect way to share your room with the baby, offers
easy access to the baby, will ease your concerns about rolling onto the
baby and means you have to make less changes to safe-proof your bed. The
bassinet attaches to the bed, opening on the attached side.
