Sleeping with parents: pros and cons of co-sleeping

Co-sleeping is a controversial practice, particularly in the United States, where the debate is much access. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it, especially in the first months of life, and suggests sharing the same room, but not the same bed .

On the contrary, there are cultures in which co-sleeping is a natural and widespread practice, especially in the non-western part of the world. But then can you sleep with your parents or not? Let's see what the pros and cons of co-sleeping are .

Co-sleeping: the pros

The co-sleeping:

Promotes breastfeeding, thanks to the closeness between mother and child.
It can promote family rest . Children's sleep can become a big problem for parents. There are children who sleep anywhere, all night, and in that case the question does not arise. There are, however, other children who wake up frequently ; in this second case, putting the child in the Latvian with parents can reassure him and help him rest better and more. In addition, bed sharing can help parents manage their child's night awakenings more peacefully.
It's a cuddle. It helps you feel closer, especially when you spend many hours during the day.

Co-sleeping: the cons

The co-sleeping:

It can negatively affect couple intimacy. Or at least this is supported by some detractors of the practice of co-sleeping. In reality, the effect that co-sleeping can have on the couple's harmony has a considerable subjective component .
According to some schools of thought, it can endanger children, especially those under six months, who run the risk of being crushed or suffocated due to the unconscious movements of the adult during sleep . According to some theories, it can increase the risk of SIDS, the sudden death syndrome that can affect children in the first months of life.
According to some theories, it can negatively affect the autonomy and independence of the child . But it must be said that, according to other theories, this statement would not be true and, on the contrary, co-sleeping could, on the contrary, favor the autonomy of the child who, feeling pampered and protected, would grow more self-confident.

Co-sleeping: what to do?

But then what needs to be done? Can parents and children sleep together in the same bed? The choice, as in many cases when it comes to family matters, is very personal. There are couples who do not like intrusions in their bed and so it is right that they defend the thalamus from the presence of their children; and there are couples for whom the little one does not represent any nuisance and even keep it in the bed can represent a pleasant habit.

There are parents whose children sleep peacefully in their cribs all night and parents whose only way to sleep is to do it together with their child.

And if you fear that the practice may have a negative influence on the psycho-social development of the child, keep in mind that there are completely opposite theories, relative to this point; then choose to follow what you feel closest to your idea and your needs on the management of family night life.