Co-sleeping is often synonymous with bed-sharing or letting your baby sleep in the same bed with you, but it<\/p>\n
can also mean putting your baby to sleep in the same room as you but in a separate bed.<\/p>
Experts recommend healthy infants be placed on their backs to sleep as this is the safest position. Doing this, decreases the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).<\/p>\n
This applies to daytime naps, as well as during the night.<\/p>
Huggies expert and midwife, Lynne Bluff, covers the benefits of co-sleeping with a newborn baby.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember for the first three to four months of life, as much as possible skin-to-skin contact between baby, mom and dad is recommended.<\/p>\n
Skin-to-skin means baby only has a nappy on, but no clothes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby is then placed against mom or dad\u2019s bare chest and is wrapped in a shirt or blanket against mom or dad\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany parents choose to co-sleep because it allows for more skin-to-skin contact,\u201d said Bluff.<\/p>\n
Here are a few benefits of keeping your baby close:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Babies naturally fall into a day and night-time pattern; it isn\u2019t uncommon for newborns to mix up their days and nights.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Many babies sleep extra soundly throughout the day but can be restless or wakeful much of the night.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keeping baby close during the day with lights and noise around can eventually help baby stay a bit more alert during the day.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keeping baby close at night. Meeting his or her needs in a quiet and dim environment can help him or her learn to rest more at night.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Babies also rest more soundly when they feel secure.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-sleeping helps babies to practise waking themselves. While having your newborn fall into and staying in a deep sleep might sound appealing, it isn\u2019t the type of sleep they were designed to have.<\/p>\n
Co-sleeping babies are frequently roused when they are close to their moms.<\/p>\n
This ‘practice rousing’ can help babies learn how to use their self-preservation instinct to wake up when there\u2019s a danger of their overheating, being too cold or there is something blocking their airway.<\/p>\n
Being able to rouse easily may reduce the risk of SIDS.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Meet baby\u2019s needs without getting up.<\/p>\n
Most babies need to be fed, soothed and changed at night.<\/p>\n
If baby is close by, mom can do all of these things while she is in bed and can remain in a restful state.<\/p>\n
Getting out of bed, walking down the hall, changing nappies on the changing pad, feeding in a glider and soothing baby back to sleep requires being fully awake and alert.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Experience less night-time crying.<\/p>\n
Babies sleep well when they feel secure.<\/p>\n
Knowing mom is close will likely help baby sleep better and fuss less.<\/p>\n
Moms that co-sleep are able to notice earlier signs of hunger and the need to be changed.<\/p>\n
Often mom wakes up during these early signs and meets baby\u2019s needs before he or she begins to cry.<\/p>\n
When you co-sleep there is less fuss before laying them down.<\/p>\n
This often means less crying.<\/p>\n
You aren\u2019t likely to have an overtired baby fuss and protest about being laid down in the cot to sleep.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-sleeping helps with bonding.<\/p>\n
A secure bond between baby and caregiver is an emotional bond that leaves baby feeling secure and cared for.<\/p>\n
This secure attachment, namely fostered infancy, translates to children feeling secure and knowing their caregiver will always return to meet their needs.<\/p>\n
Children with a secure attachment often respond appropriately to situations, show minimal distress when their mother leaves, and are happy when their mother returns.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-sleeping helps to maintain an adequate milk supply.<\/p>\n
Feeding on demand helps moms maintain an adequate milk supply.<\/p>\n
Breast milk production is a supply and demand process.<\/p>\n
Babies are designed to eat frequently and at night, co-sleeping helps to make it easier for mom and baby to meet this need.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-sleeping can mean better rest for mom.<\/p>\n
Moms, not just babies, are wired for closeness.<\/p>\n
Studies show that new moms do not experience a better quality of sleep if their babies go to the nursery at night.<\/p>\n
Co-sleeping may not guarantee more sound sleep for every mom, but many have been quoted as saying they sleep better knowing that baby is safe and close by.<\/p>\n
Moms also release oxytocin when they are close to their babies.<\/p>\n
Oxytocin improves the quality of sleep and it\u2019s also great for breastfeeding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs your baby grows, he may not want to sleep all night, every night, with you.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a bit of trial and error, you\u2019ll eventually find a method that works for you, your partner and your baby,\u201d Bluff added.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Pregnancy Awareness Week is from February 12 to the 16.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/p>\n
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