Co-Sleeping 

Co-sleeping is one of those subjects that very often gets a mixed reaction as it has many myths and misconeptions surrounding it. 

The truth is co-sleeping is something that is practiced the world over and in many cultured is the norm. In our society outside contributors such as drink, cigarettes and drugs an make it unsafe. However done correctly, its very safe, can lower the chance of SIDS, help you and your baby sleep longer and also be a very lovely and rewarding experience.

The following are worth noting :-

• Cultures who traditionally practice safe co-sleeping, such as Asians, enjoy the lowest incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Trusted research by Dr. James McKenna, Director of the Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory of the University of Notre Dame, showed that mothers and babies who sleep close to each other enjoy similar protective sleep patterns.  Mothers enjoy a heightened awareness of their baby’s presence, what I call a “nighttime sleep harmony,” that protects baby.  The co-sleeping mother is more aware if her baby’s well-being is in danger. 
• Babies who sleep close to their mothers enjoy “protective arousal,” a state of sleep that enables them to more easily awaken if their health is in danger, such as breathing difficulties.
• Co-sleeping makes breastfeeding easier, which provides many health benefits for mother and baby.
• More infant deaths occur in unsafe cribs than in parents' bed.
• Co-sleeping tragedies that have occurred have nearly always been associated with dangerous practices, such as unsafe beds, or parents under the influence of substances that dampen their awareness of baby.
• Research shows that co-sleeping infants cry less during the night, compared to solo sleepers who startle repeatedly throughout the night and spend 4 times the number of minutes crying. Startling and crying releases adrenaline, which can interfere with restful sleep and leads to long term sleep anxiety.
• Infants who sleep near to parents have more stable temperatures, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone.  This means baby sleeps physiologically safer.
• A recent large study concluded that bed sharing did NOT increase the risk of SIDS, unless the mom was a smoker or abused alcohol

Sometimes if a parent is uncomfortable having baby in the bed but wants to co sleep you can remove a side of the cot and attach and push your bed and the cot 2gether so there is more space and sometimes more peace of mind.

Breastfeeding mothers often find co sleeping very convenient as they do not have to wake fully to feed and can do so lying down. 

You do have to be careful of covers as an adult duvet is to thick and hot  for a small baby. A syggestion would be to have your baby on the outside (providing they cannot roll) or in the middle on top of the duvet with their iwn light blanket. Once a child is old enough to roll place cushions on the floor just incase.

Co sleeping can be a wonderful thing, however, should NOT be done under any circumstance if either parent smokes, has has a drink or any other drugs, or is exceptionally tired (aot more so than normally comes along with parenthood)

Personal experience:-

I have co-slept with my son on and off his whole life. As s newborn he was quite unsettled and would toss and turn in his moses but slept incredibly well in with me. He then got to 4/5 months and did not like it and slept all night in his own bed, then again at 10 months got poorly and would only sleep with me. Hes 18 months now and 99% of the time sleeps in his iwn bed. Its only when hes unwell that he tends to come in 2 bed with me.

Having co-slept I can honestly hand on heart say that there has never ever been a risk of me squashing him as I have always had an "awareness" that he is there.

Every child and every parent is different and what works for 1 may not suit another. Always do what you are most comfortable with and whatever is safest for your family

By Kristy