Colin Snow
Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep in close proximity to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. The term co-sleeping is often used interchangeably with bed-sharing, which refers to the practice of sharing a bed with one's child. However, co-sleeping can also refer to room-sharing, where the child sleeps in the same room as the parent but on a different sleeping surface. Co-sleeping is a widely debated topic, with some arguing that it promotes bonding and enables parents to get more sleep, while others raise concerns about the risks of suffocation, infant death, and unhealthy dependence on the parent(s).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The practice of sleeping in the same bed or close by in the same room with one's child |
| Synonyms | Bed-sharing, room-sharing, sofa-sharing |
| Benefits | More sleep for parents and children, promotes bonding, facilitates breastfeeding, increases responsiveness of parents to their child's needs |
| Risks | Suffocation, strangulation, SIDS, fatal accidents, infant deaths, unhealthy dependence of the child on the parent(s) |
| Recommendations | The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants stay in the same room with their parents for at least six months, but strongly discourages co-sleeping with newborns under the age of 1 |
| Prevalence | Co-sleeping is most prevalent in early infancy, declining with increasing age. In some US states, up to 80% of infants co-sleep. Australian research found that around 75% of babies co-sleep in the first 3 to 6 months of life |
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What You'll Learn
Benefits of co-sleeping
Co-sleeping, also known as sleep sharing, is the practice of sleeping in close proximity to your child, rather than in separate rooms. It does not always imply bed-sharing.
While co-sleeping is controversial, with many parents feeling it is a safety risk for infants, there are several benefits to the practice.
Breastfeeding
Co-sleeping can make breastfeeding easier and more convenient. In a study of 870 women, researchers found that those who co-slept had stronger and longer breastfeeding patterns. Breastfeeding babies frequently helps them learn to latch better, making them confident feeders. It also helps maintain a healthy milk supply for mothers, especially those who are working and are away for significant amounts of time each day.
Bonding
Co-sleeping allows you to spend more time being close to your baby, which can be comforting for both of you. It can help create a stronger bond between parent and baby, and helps release the love hormone oxytocin, which plays a vital role in bonding and attachment.
Stress reduction
Having a parent nearby reduces the amount of stress a baby feels. Less stress means lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which in turn means a healthier baby. Co-sleeping also stabilises an infant's body temperature and raises their oxygen levels.
Better sleep
Babies get better sleep when they sleep with their parents, which is good for their development. They breathe more regularly, use energy more efficiently and grow faster. Co-sleeping can also help parents get more sleep, as it makes it easier to respond to your baby and settle them more quickly.
Synchronised sleep patterns
By watching your sleep cycle, babies naturally fall into an appropriate daytime and nighttime pattern faster. According to a scientific study, physical contact and proximity in the same room promote the synchronization of the child’s circadian rhythm with that of the parent, which helps the baby consolidate their sleep.
Safety considerations
While co-sleeping has many benefits, it is important to be aware of the safety risks. The biggest argument against bed sharing is the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) related deaths. However, room sharing, where the baby sleeps in the same room as the parent but on a separate surface, can help to reduce this risk.
Other safety considerations for bed sharing include ensuring the co-sleeper is set up correctly, and avoiding pillows and blankets which could be a hazard for the child. It is also recommended that parents avoid hazardous substances such as drugs, alcohol, and medications that cause drowsiness.
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Risks of co-sleeping
Co-sleeping is the practice of sleeping in the same bed or close by in the same room with one's child. It is also known as bed-sharing. While co-sleeping can promote bonding and enable parents to get more sleep, there are several risks associated with the practice.
Firstly, co-sleeping has been linked to an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While some research suggests that co-sleeping in an "appropriate and safe" manner can reduce the risk of SIDS, other studies have found that bed-sharing substantially raises the risk. For example, one study found that bed-sharing increases a baby's risk of SIDS from about 1 in 46,000 to 1 in 16,400. The risk is especially high for preterm infants, babies with low birth weight, and healthy full-term infants younger than four months old. Additionally, certain behaviours, such as parental smoking or drinking, can further increase the risk of SIDS when co-sleeping.
Secondly, co-sleeping increases the risk of suffocation and strangulation. Soft mattresses, comforters, and pillows can pose a suffocation hazard for infants. Babies can also become entrapped and suffocate when they get trapped between a mattress and headboard, wall, or other objects. Strangulation can occur in bed frames that allow part of an infant's body to pass through while trapping their head or from dangling cords.
Thirdly, co-sleeping can lead to respiratory problems, especially for premature babies or those with respiratory issues. Sleeping on sofas or waterbeds can be particularly dangerous, as babies can be trapped between the cushions or the mattress and the sofa frame.
Finally, co-sleeping may cause sleep problems for children later in life. While maternal presence at the onset of sleep may protect against sleep difficulties, other aspects of co-sleeping may disrupt sleep patterns and lead to long-term issues.
Overall, while co-sleeping can have benefits, it is important to carefully consider the potential risks and take precautions to ensure the safety of the child.
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Co-sleeping safety practices
Co-sleeping is the practice of sleeping in the same bed or close by in the same room with one's child. It is standard practice in many parts of the world and is practiced by a significant minority in countries where cribs are also used.
There are differing opinions on the safety of co-sleeping. Some sources claim that co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS, while others claim that it reduces the risk. It is important to note that co-sleeping can be done in a safe manner, and parents who choose to co-sleep should follow certain safety practices to reduce potential risks.
- Infants should always sleep on their backs on a firm, clean, and safe surface. This helps to protect their airways and reduces the risk of SIDS.
- Avoid soft surfaces such as couches, sofas, pillows, recliners, or bean bags, as infants can slip down or get wedged and suffocate.
- Ensure that the mattress fits tightly into the bed frame to avoid gaps or spaces that can pose a danger.
- Keep the baby's head and face uncovered and avoid using pillows, stuffed animals, or soft toys near the infant.
- Use a safe sleeping bag with no hood and keep the baby's arms out. Do not wrap or swaddle the baby when bed-sharing or co-sleeping.
- Avoid co-sleeping if you or your partner smoke, consume alcohol, or take drugs that make you feel sleepy or less aware.
- Make sure your baby can't fall out of bed. Consider sleeping on a mattress on the floor if there is a risk of the baby rolling off the bed.
- Place the baby to the side of one parent, away from the edge of the bed, and never in the middle of two adults or next to other children or pets, as this can increase the risk of overheating and suffocation.
- Be aware that co-sleeping may not be suitable for premature babies or those who were small for their gestational age.
- Breastfeeding is recommended when co-sleeping as it significantly helps to protect infants from death, including SIDS.
- Ensure that both parents agree and are comfortable with the decision to co-sleep and acknowledge the responsibility for the infant's safety.
- Create a safe sleep environment if you think you might fall asleep while holding your baby on a couch or chair by moving to a safe sleep surface.
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Co-sleeping and breastfeeding
Co-sleeping refers to the practice of sleeping in the same bed or close by in the same room as one's child. Bed-sharing is a subset of co-sleeping, where the child sleeps in the same bed as one or both parents.
There are several safety concerns associated with co-sleeping, particularly bed-sharing. The soft quality of mattresses, comforters, and pillows may increase the risk of suffocation for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages co-sleeping with newborns under the age of 1, and recommends room-sharing for at least the first six months instead. Other precautions include ensuring that infants sleep on their backs on a firm surface, avoiding waterbeds, pillows, recliners, or couches, and keeping soft toys away from the baby.
However, some infant sleep specialists argue for the importance of co-sleeping, particularly bed-sharing. One of the best-known proponents of bed-sharing is anthropologist and infant sleep specialist James McKenna, who uses the term "breastsleeping" to describe the breastfeeding/co-sleeping arrangement. He and other experts point to flaws in the data that the AAP uses to recommend against bed-sharing, stating that bed-sharing among breastfeeding infants does not cause SIDS in the absence of known hazards.
Breastfeeding may also help to make bed-sharing safer. A breastfeeding mother who co-sleeps with her baby tends to be highly responsive to her baby's needs and will instinctively form a protective "C" shape around her baby. She will also check her baby and breastfeed them more frequently when co-sleeping than when room-sharing. Additionally, breastfeeding provides babies with important immune factors such as antibodies and white blood cells, which may help protect them from SIDS.
Overall, co-sleeping and breastfeeding are complementary practices that can provide numerous benefits to both mother and baby. However, it is important for parents to be aware of the potential risks and take the necessary precautions to create a safe sleep environment for their child.
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Co-sleeping and parental responsiveness
Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. It is a broad term that encompasses three different sleeping practices: bed-sharing, room-sharing, and sofa-sharing. Bed-sharing refers to the practice of sleeping in the same bed as one's child, while room-sharing involves having the child sleep in the same room but on a different sleeping surface, such as a crib or bassinet. Sofa-sharing, a hazardous practice, involves an adult and child sleeping together on a couch or sofa.
The topic of co-sleeping is highly debated, with proponents arguing that it saves babies' lives, promotes bonding, enables better sleep for parents and facilitates breastfeeding. Co-sleeping allows parents to easily feed and comfort their child during the night, increasing parental responsiveness to their child's needs. It is also argued that co-sleeping evolved over five million years, altering the infant's sleep experience and the number of maternal inspections.
However, opponents of co-sleeping raise concerns about the potential risks involved. Co-sleeping has been associated with an increased risk of fatal accidents and infant deaths due to suffocation, trapping, and other accidents that occur in parental beds. Certain behaviours, such as smoking, heavy drinking, drug use, obesity, or specific risk-increasing traits, can further elevate these risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly discourages co-sleeping with newborns under one year of age.
While co-sleeping can provide benefits, it is important to prioritise safety. Some recommendations to reduce risks include ensuring infants sleep on their backs on a firm surface, using a tight-fitting mattress in the bed frame, avoiding soft toys and heavy blankets, and ensuring the baby's head remains uncovered. Additionally, co-sleeping with individuals other than the parents, such as siblings or pets, is not advised.
The decision to co-sleep should consider the specific circumstances and needs of the family. While it may work well for some, others may prefer separate sleeping arrangements. Ultimately, the priority is to ensure a safe and comfortable sleeping environment for both the parents and the child.
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Frequently asked questions
Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. It is also referred to as bed-sharing or room-sharing. Bed-sharing refers to when a baby or child shares the same bed as their parents, while room-sharing means the baby sleeps in the same room but on a different surface, such as a crib or bassinet.
Co-sleeping can help to strengthen the bond between parents and their baby. It can also make night-time feeding and comforting more convenient, which may result in more sleep for both parents and baby. Additionally, co-sleeping can lower the risk of SIDS by up to 50% as parents can easily be alerted to any potential breathing issues.
Co-sleeping has been associated with an increased risk of fatal sleeping accidents, such as suffocation or strangulation, particularly if parents are sleeping on a soft mattress with heavy quilts, comforters, and pillows. It is recommended that babies sleep on a firm surface with light bedding. Co-sleeping is also dangerous if parents have consumed alcohol or drugs, or if the baby is sharing a bed with other children or pets.
Co-sleeping is a common practice in many parts of the world, with some US states reporting co-sleeping rates of up to 80% in early infancy. Australian research has found that around 75% of babies co-sleep for at least some time during the first 3 to 6 months of life.
