Co-Sleeping

Co-Sleeping

What is it?

Co-sleeping is typically sharing the same bed surface as your baby but can also be having the baby's crib or bassinet in your room within arms reach of the mother. 
We attached Noah's crib to our bed without the side rail so that we had more room, he had his own space and also so that it created a more sheltered place from the rest of our bed. This is called a sidecar arrangement.
He ended up sleeping mostly in our bed however and that has worked out well too. He now likes to climb over to his bed and lay on his pillow...he knows its his space and I think that will help when we transition him to his own bed.

What are the benefits? 

More sleep for mom and baby, especially while mother is breastfeeding. Mothers are meant to sleep with their children. When cosleeping, your natural rhythms become very in tune with each other, often the mother wakes just before the child does to nurse. Nursing while lying down allows for more rest and allows mom and baby just to go right back to sleep. Some studies suggest that cosleeping protects against SIDS. Prolongs the natural child spacing effects of breastfeeding. The child tends to be more securely attached and have higher self-esteem later on in child and adulthood.

Is it safe?

If safety precautions are taken, cosleeping has been shown to be 2x as safe as crib sleeping.
  • Parents should not sleep with their babies if they have ingested alcohol or drugs or are heavy smokers  - obviously never ever if someone smokes in the bedroom or bed.
  • Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress.
  • The mattress should be tight fitting to the headboard of the bed.
  • There should not be any loose pillows or soft blankets near the baby's face.
  • There should not be any space between the bed and adjoining wall where the baby could roll and become trapped.
  • The baby should not be placed on his stomach.
  • Some sources also say not to put a baby on a waterbed to sleep. 
Also see this sleep environment safety checklist.


Check out these websites for more information!
PhDinParenting
Mothering
Kellymom
Dr. McKenna's Mother-Baby Sleep Labratory
Dr. Sears
The Natural Child Project