Is it okay to let the baby share your bed with you? There is no
single correct answer to this situation. It is up to you, as a parent, to decide after knowing its
pros and cons:
Advantages of
co-sleeping
- Sleeping with your baby can foster a closer bond between you and your
child. - It gives you more time to spend with your baby. This is especially important for
working couples. - According to some studies, breastfeeding is higher amongst babies who share
their parents’ bed - Babies who sleep with their parents are believed to enjoy better
sleep. - Some studies report that babies who co-sleep wake less often during the night and
fall asleep faster. - Co-sleeping tends to reduce crying amongst babies.
- It is easier
for parents to attend to the baby’s needs at night. - Co-sleeping enables parents to respond
immediately to babies when they cry.
Disadvantages of co-sleeping
- Once they get used to sleeping with them,
babies may refuse to sleep in the parents’ absence. - It may be difficult to teach co-sleeping
babies to sleep alone later. - Sleeping with a restless baby may disrupt the parents’
sleep. - Parents may see a baby in bed as an intrusion in their love
life.