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Co-sleeping is among those few parenting conversations that generate much angst and judgment. “Where should my baby sleep?”, “How can I get my babies to sleep through the night?” — these are common questions new parents have. We also label our babies “good” or “bad”, depending on how much they annoy us in the nighttime, or we believe that babies’ sleep reflects how competent we are as parents. And it goes without saying that the beliefs and decisions about our babies’ sleeping habits are more a reflection of our culture than scientific evidence (1).
While we do hear horror stories about co-sleeping accidents, there are many benefits of co-sleeping that one should look into. Here are seven advantages of co-sleeping that should inspire you to cuddle up with your little one tonight:
1. It Makes Breastfeeding Easy
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Breastfeeding can be difficult for new moms and babies too. However, it is proven that co-sleeping babies are likelier to breastfeed successfully and longer. Since the baby is near, all that it takes for a new mom is to draw them closer and let them suckle. While this may seem trivial, it sure makes breastfeeding a lot easier and convenient than waking up frequently at night to feed the little one in a crib in another room. The benefits slowly add up and make for a healthier breastfed baby (2).
2. Sleep Better
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Peaceful sleep is critical for a baby’s brain development. If getting some shuteye sounds like a massive deal with your current routine, try co-sleeping if you haven’t already. Brain scans of babies prove that co-sleeping babies have better sleep cycles. It’s not a surprise that babies will cry when they are all alone in the dark. So, the closer your baby is to mom or dad, the calmer they are. This reduces stress levels, allowing them to sleep longer and deeper. And, of course, this translates to sound sleep for you too! (3), (4). This is genuinely reassuring, especially if your baby frequently wakes up in the middle of the night and leaves you feeling tired and sleep-deprived.
3. Reduced Risk Of SIDS
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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a concern in the medical community. While research supports the fact that babies should be put to sleep on their backs and away from adults, some others have observed a lower rate of SIDS in cultures where co-sleeping is the norm. With safety measures, bed-sharing with the baby is manageable when parents are aware of the position of the baby and their own (5), (6).
4. Normalized Body Temperature
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Babies aren’t wired to regulate their body temperatures. This is why it is essential to swaddle your baby and keep them in a room with a regulated temperature. Studies have shown that babies who co-sleep have stable body temperatures than those who are solitary sleepers. It is probably because parents’ body temperature helps normalize the baby’s as they are in close proximity to each other (7).
5. Better Breathing And Heart Rate
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It has been found that co-sleeping helps babies breathe better and have a stable heart rhythm than those who don’t. Since the baby’s breath syncs with the mother’s or the father’s, they breathe easily. Plus, with the higher amount of carbon dioxide exhaled by the parents, the baby is stimulated to inhale more oxygen. The better the baby breathes, the more regularized their heart activity is (8).
6. Promotes Better Fathering
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Co-sleeping has been seen to benefit dads as much as moms. According to a study, when fathers sleep with the baby, it lowers their testosterone levels than those who sleep separately (9). While the mother directly takes care of young ones, father’s often shy away from sharing primary childcare responsibilities. So, bed-sharing with babies can significantly make fathers more sensitive and invested in responsive parenting.
7. Stronger Bonding With The Baby
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Parents and babies bond better when they co-sleep. Along with comfort, co-sleeping also ensures that your baby gets extra care and attention from parents. While parents spend a long time figuring out ways to consciously bond with their babies, it should delight them to know that co-sleeping helps in bonding unconsciously. When you’re present with your baby in the dark, it strengthens their instincts that you’ll be there for them when they need your support. As they spend more time with you, they are attuned to your emotions and actions. What’s better, if you already have a busy routine, you can use this as an opportunity to get closer to them (10).
All babies are different, and each one has unique needs. As attractive as sleep training and letting the baby “cry it out” sounds, it’s certainly not great for their development. Co-sleeping helps ensure that parents understand their requirements and adapt well, especially in the initial stages of development when the baby is dependent on them. What are your experiences with co-sleeping with your baby? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
