There is a lot of controversy surrounding the subject of co-sleeping, which can be worrying as a new mother. This act is something that can work very well for one family, but not for others. The controversy out there can be stressful and distressing for a mother who just wants to do the best for their newborn. Today, we will be taking a closer look at the pros and cons, in order to make things clearer for you.

Comfort and Safety

Most parents choose to co-sleep with their baby to provide them with an extra level of comfort. This will lead to less distressing behavior and crying of a newborn. Most mothers in the animal kingdom will sleep with their babies while they are young and vulnerable. Sleeping with your baby in the same bed or keeping their crib close to your bed will usually lead to less sleep pattern disruption and will improve sleep quality because your baby will feel safer and less anxious.

More Sleep

Co-sleeping means that you won’t have to keep getting up and down throughout the night, which means you will get more sleep in return. Although the amount of sleep you get is important, the quality is often overlooked. If you are co-sleeping with your baby, then you may want to invest in a better mattress and do your research into the best bed size, such as king or queen, to ensure everyone has an adequate amount of space. For more information, this explains the difference in detail.

Makes Breastfeeding Easier

If you choose to breastfeed your baby, it can be mentally and physically exhausting to get up 4-5 times every night for feeds. Your sleep will be more disrupted, and you will find yourself on your feet a lot more. Co-sleeping will mean that your baby will be in close proximity to you, so you won’t have to get fully out of bed. It ensures that your baby will quickly get what they want, and it will make it easier for you to fall back to sleep afterward. Just make sure the baby is safe before you do.

Increased Risk of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a very scary and worrying aspect of being a new parent. SIDS is basically the death of a baby that can’t be explained because there is no specific cause. Research suggests that co-sleeping is linked to SIDS. There are many conflicting opinions that circulate this, however, most cases of SIDS that have been reported are linked to bed sharing. Bed sharing is becoming a more common form of co-sleeping, so awareness is being raised by the authorities.

Breaking the Habit

Once your baby is used to sleeping in the same bed as you, adjusting their routine can be difficult. It can take time and cause plenty of stress, so you need to be prepared for this transition if you choose co-sleeping. You’ll also need to consider other children. If you have older children or plan to have another baby, then you’ll need to make sure your eldest is used to sleeping in their own bed, because you should not co-sleep older children with a newborn, as it can cause too many sleep issues.

Risk of Injury

Even though co-sleeping can be safe, if anything goes wrong, it can become dangerous. This includes the baby falling off the bed or into a gap, overheating and in extreme cases, suffocating. To reduce the risk of your baby being hurt, you should invest in a mattress with a firm surface. The mattress should fit into the bed frame perfectly, to prevent your baby falling into gaps. Here are some ways to make your sleeping space more baby proof.

With all the conflicting and worrying information out there, it’s easy for us to get misinformed and confused about the pros and cons of co-sleeping. You just need to make sure you do what’s best for you and your baby.