Sleep Easy By Not Co-Sleeping

The idea of co-sleeping with infants is controversial — while some parents swear by it, many experts caution against it. In this article, we’ll weigh the pros and cons of sharing a bed with your baby as well as professional recommendations on the subject.

Pros:

1. Easier nighttime feeding: Many moms find that co-sleeping facilitates nighttime breastfeeding, which can be especially helpful for mothers who are nursing exclusively or need to wake up frequently during the night to feed their baby.
2. Bonding opportunity: Co-sleeping allows babies and parents to bond in a way that sleeping in separate beds cannot provide; when done safely, co-sleeping can create positive memories that last a lifetime.
3. Improved sleep quality: Some studies have shown that babies who sleep near their parents tend to have improved sleep quality compared to those who do not co-sleep due to feeling more secure and comforted in close proximity with their caregivers.

Cons:

1. Increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome): According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), bed sharing increases an infant’s risk for SIDS due to potential hazards such as suffocation from blankets or pillows covering an infant’s face, entrapment between mattress seams or other objects like stuffed animals or toys near them, overheating from too many layers of clothing/blankets/bedding on top of them etc..
2. Interrupted sleep for both parent and child: When you share a bed with your baby , both you and your little one may be disturbed by each other’s movements throughout the night . This can lead t o less restful nights — resulting in both parties feeling exhausted during daytime hours .
3. Lack of personal space: Sharing a bed often means sacrificing personal space , which can lead t o feelings o f overcrowding if there is limited room available on the mattress surface — especially if multiple people are involved!

Recommendations:

The AAP recommends against bedsharing until children reach 1 year old, at which point they suggest discussing safe sleeping arrangements with your pediatrician before deciding whether it is right for your family.

Additionally, they advise placing infants younger than 4 months old alone on firm mattresses without any soft objects nearby while using safety devices such as crib bumpers only when necessary. If you do decide to share beds with young children, always ensure that all adults involved know how important it is to follow safe sleeping guidelines — such as avoiding smoking exposure prior to going asleep together!