In the context of sleeping arrangements, which of the following is true of co-sleeping?
Co-sleeping is the practice of parents and children sleeping in the same room, often with one’s baby in arm’s reach. There are multiple ways to co-sleep, including having your baby's crib in your room (room-sharing), using a co-sleeper or sidecar attached to your bed, or sleeping with your baby in your bed (bed-sharing or family bed). Many parents like co-sleeping because it keeps their baby close, making nighttime care and breastfeeding more efficient and offering intimacy, togetherness, and attachment. Show What Is Co-Sleeping?Though many may assume that co-sleeping means that parents and their baby share the same bed, Dr. William Sears stresses that definition is a bit too narrow. Sears, a well-known pediatrician, and author of many popular parenting books defines co-sleeping as sleeping within arm's reach of the baby. So, as noted above, this includes having the baby in their own sleeping space but within the same room, which is the sleep practice advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Sleeping in close proximity to your baby is a parenting practice that has been around for as long as people have been having babies. Cultures all around the world continue with this practice of keep babies within arms reach during sleep, sometimes in a family bed, other times with the baby in a bassinet or other independent sleep space. Over time, the practice of separating babies and their parents at night took hold in Western cultures. However, over the past few decades, many families in the West are returning to this traditional sleeping arrangement. In particular, proponents of attachment parenting, a practice that centers on developing a closely bonded parent-child relationship, tend to embrace co-sleeping and its benefits. Co-Sleeping ArrangementsParents can find a co-sleeping arrangement that they feel comfortable with and works for them. Shared sleep can take on many forms and is adaptable to many lifestyles. You can also be free to modify your arrangement depending on your family's current needs and preferences and what is working best (or not).
Expert RecommendationsThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages room-sharing but does not recommend sharing a bed with a small infant due to the potential for injury or death of the baby. Risk peaks between two and four months of age, but the warning to avoid the family bed extends until a baby turns one. The AAP cites that bed-sharing may pose an increased risk of SIDS and warns about the potential for suffocation from soft bedding, a soft bed mattress surface, or a parent rolling over on them. However, there are reputable medical and parenting organizations such as Attachment Parenting International, La Leche League, and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine that do support the family bed. They point out that when other safe sleep rules are being followed, the risks of bed-sharing are much lower and argue that breastfeeding in combination with bed-sharing may be protective. In fact, there are studies to support the safety of bed-sharing, particularly in conjunction with breastfeeding. According to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, "Existing evidence does not support the conclusion that bed-sharing among breastfeeding infants (i.e., breastsleeping) causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the absence of known hazards." These hazards include soft bedding, sofa-sleeping, smoking, alcohol or drug use, premature infants, sleeping in a prone or side position, and not breastfeeding. Organizations that promote bed-sharing believe that the benefits of the practice, including promoting breastfeeding frequency and duration, outweigh any potential increase in the risk of infant sleep-related injury or death when all other safety protocols are being followed. Additionally, they argue that since cultures with high rates of bed-sharing in conjunction with low rates of maternal smoking and drug use have lower SIDs rates, the APA's rule should only apply to those in the high-risk categories. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against bed-sharing in any circumstance. It's important to note that the above groups do agree that bed-sharing is not safe in the presence of the SIDS risk factors listed above. Ultimately, parents are left to weigh the benefits and risks for themselves to decide which type of sleep arrangement makes the most sense for their family. All families are different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sleeping arrangements. Additionally, families who choose not to bed-share can still co-sleep by simply having their baby's crib in their room. BenefitsMany parents, both those who specifically consider themselves to be attachment parents and those who do not, believe that co-sleeping or shared sleep (whether in the same bed, using a co-sleeper, or having the baby's bed in their room) has many advantages.
Potential DrawbacksConflicting research and recommendations can make it challenging for families to decide whether or not co-sleeping (and which type) is right for them. Some experts argue that there simply isn't a great enough body of research on the short-term and long-term benefits of co-sleeping for ironclad recommendations and believe more research is needed to verify the claimed benefits or drawbacks of shared sleep. However, some potential drawbacks of the practice include the following:
Cultural DifferencesThere is no doubt that there is a difference in how well the practice of co-sleeping is accepted across cultures as well as in how it is practiced, such as whether bed-sharing is more prevalent compared with having the baby close by. Western culture largely has frowned on the family bed arrangement, whereas co-sleeping seems to be the norm in developing countries. Anthropologists have also noted a difference in the acceptance of the practice based on the general attitude of society. Collectivist cultures, meaning cultures that place greater value on the good of the group as opposed to the individual, are more likely to co-sleep than societies that emphasize the individual. Sleep Safety PrecautionsIt's important to note that sleep arrangements are an intimate choice and there are a wide variety of options to weigh. Co-sleeping isn't for every family, and the various ways co-sleeping can be practiced may work differently for different families. For those that choose co-sleeping, it is imperative that specific sleep safety precautions are followed, including placing the baby to sleep on their back and removing any loose or soft items from the sleeping area. Sleep Safety PrecationsFor parents who share a bed with their baby, these guidelines are advised:
A Word From VerywellClearly, the decision of how and where you baby sleeps is a very personal one that may be informed expert medical advice, scientific research, cultural heritage, convenience, trial and error, parenting style, practical considerations (like the size of your living space), and personal preference. All of these factors are valid and can be used to create the sleep practice that best suits your family. Ultimately, as long as safety precautions are taken, you can rest well in whichever sleep arrangement you choose. What is con. a practice in which one or both parents sleep in the same room with their infant, near enough for them to touch.
What are the long term effects of coThe impact of chronic co-sleeping on a person's functioning—younger and older—can run the gamut from memory loss, fatigue, low energy, depression, and obesity. The reasons for parents allowing older children to co-sleep are complex and not completely understood.
Where is coFor the overwhelming majority of mothers and babies around the globe today, cosleeping is an unquestioned practice. In much of southern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America, mothers and babies routinely share sleep.
At what age is coBeginning at the age of 1, co-sleeping is generally considered safe. In fact, the older a child gets, the less risky it becomes, as they are more readily able to move, roll over, and free themselves from restraint. Co-sleeping with an infant under 12 months of age, on the other hand, is potentially dangerous.
|