Bed sharing and co-sleeping are terms often used interchangeably, but incorrectly.
- Bed sharing is the act of a child and parent sharing the same bed.
- Co-sleeping is the act of a child and parent sleeping in the same room and within close proximity, but not necessarily in the same bed.
"Sleeping with your baby, ("co-sleeping ") can be dangerous. If an adult or child rolls over on a baby, the baby can be hurt or even suffocated."Guess what? That's true! It's also true that a baby can be seriously injured or hurt if left to sleep in a crib alone, though. You see, sleeping arrangements are only safe if done correctly. Bed sharing is actually the safest option for your baby if done correctly, according to research done by many people, the most popular being Dr. James McKenna.
In case you want to know the guidelines for bed sharing before you find out all of the benefits, here they are:
- Infant must be breastfed.
- Parents should be the only people in the bed with the infant (no siblings).
- Mattresses should be stiff, have no spaces or gaps between it and a head/foot board, and should not be placed close enough to a wall as to provide a gap that the baby could get wedged in to.
- No one in the bed should be overly exhausted, on any medications that induce sleep, or have any alcohol or drugs in his or her system that would be desensitizing.
- Can only be done in an actual bed--not on a couch, seat, or waterbed.
- Parents cannot be smokers or obese.
- Infant should be placed on his or her back with light covers (no bulkiness) and without a pillow.
Have you ever practiced co-sleeping? How, and for how long?
Read Part Two of this post here:
http://lifemoresimply.blogspot.com/2009/05/family-bed-part-two.html
We've been co-sleeping since our first child (we have three). With our first two they slept with us until they were about five. They had their own beds. But after 2 yrs old they would go to their bed and end up on ours. Our youngest is 12 weeks and she sleeps with us now. We'll see how long we'll do it with her.
ReplyDeleteI had my son in the bed with me the first 2 weeks when I brought him home from the hospital. It was the only way I could get any sleep at all, whenever I put him in his crib he cried and I couldn't get him to sleep. Finally after 2 weeks of it (I HATED having him in the bed with me) I started letting him cry it out. Usually within 10 minutes he was asleep in his crib. He hasn't slept in the bed with me since. Although I think if he gets sick or something I will put him in the bed with me.
ReplyDeleteI dont co sleep but I think it works for some ppl where it doesnt work for others. I like how you put this out there and everything you really put a lot of thought into it.
ReplyDeleteWe are full-time co-sleepers (pack 'n play right next to our bed) and part time bed-sharers. Since Little Girl goes down before we do, she starts in the Pack 'n Play.... but anytime she wakes up, we are all happier if she just comes to cuddle with us rather than trying to force her back to sleep and back to her 'own' bed.
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