Once you have your baby, you may, or may not have decided whether you want to co-sleep or allow your baby to sleep with you. This is a big decision because chances are if you do decide to co-sleep, then one night you may decide you want some alone time with your partner and your baby may miss being next to you, so this is a big decision.
Also, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this topic so there are many parents who are uncertain when it comes to sleeping in the same bed with their little one. This post will discuss about the pros and cons of co-sleeping with your baby:
Benefits of sleeping with your baby
One benefit of co-sleeping is that your baby is close to you in the night. If you are breastfeeding, then co-sleeping with your baby is especially convenient and helpful. When your baby wakes up, you can just start feeding your baby right in your bed. It’s not recommended to fall asleep once you start feeding but many moms and babies do so. But keep in mind that you may wake up in a puddle of milk if you both fall asleep and the baby has unlatched.
Another advantage of co-sleeping with your baby is the intimacy that comes with it. You and your baby can bond better and baby will most likely sleep better as they will be close to your warmth and may even hear or feel your heart beat which is comforting to them. This in turn also helps your baby sleep better.
Disadvantages of co-sleeping with your baby
If there are benefits, there are some disadvantages to co-sleeping with your baby as well. The obvious one is that there is a possibility that you can roll on your baby or injure them in some way. This happens many times a year worldwide. After having a new baby, parents become sleep deprived because of the constant day and night care for their baby. When you are sleep deprived, you tend to sleep a little deeper, and this can be bad, when you are sleeping with a newborn right next to you.
Also, when your baby is in an adult bed, they are not enclosed and can easily wiggle their way off the bed or into a corner or pillow. This can be dangerous with lots of fluffy blankets and pillows. In a crib, they are protected by the bars from falling off the bed. You should always reassess your bed clothes and pillows before co-sleeping.
It may seem like the cons outweigh the pros in this case but if parents take the proper precautions and do some research, they will find that they can have success with co-sleeping if they just educate themselves and take the proper steps to making it a safer environment for their new baby.
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Did you know that one of the very best things you can do to ensure the future health of your child is actually a decision you can make at birth? Click here to learn more >>
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