Where Should My Baby Sleep? A Guide for New Parents
There are several contradictory
opinions on the subject, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that
parents need to find something that works with their lifestyle that keeps their
child safe. No one else’s opinions really matter as long as the child and
parents are both happy and healthy.
If you are completely lost in the
process of trying to decide where your first-born child should sleep, or if you
are a repeat parent looking to make a change, then here are a few of the most
popular and widely utilized options you could consider.
1. Bed-Sharing
This practice involves a
child sleeping in the same bed as its parents. This method is controversial and
not medically advised because it runs the risk of the child being inadvertently
crushed by the parents rolling over in their sleep or being suffocated by
blankets and pillows. However, those who take part in it claim that they
develop a very close relationship with their child in those vital first weeks
of life.
2. Co-Sleeping with a Side
Attachment
This practice involves a
three-sided crib or cot that can be attached to the side of the parent’s bed. This
gives the child their own sleeping place while also allowing them to be extremely
close to their parents. This allows the parents to attend to their needs
quickly and also allows a strong parental bond to develop. Mothers can easily
retrieve their child for nighttime breastfeeding without even having to leave
her own bed. Co-sleeper cots are considered the safest way of co-sleeping and
is medically advised as a safe alternative to bed-sharing. The website www.cosleepercots.co.uk
reviews cribs and offers sound information on co-sleeping in this manner.
3. Co-Sleeping in the Same
Room
Co-sleeping with the baby
in the same room as the parents involves the child having their own sleeping
space such as a crib that is not attached to the parent’s bed, but it is still
close-by in the same room. This allows parents to quickly react if their child
needs their attention, but it also gives both parties their personal space.
4. Separate Rooms
Utilizing separate rooms
means that the parents sleep in one room while the child sleeps in a completely
separate room. This makes attending to the child’s needs a little more
difficult and time-consuming, but it allows both the child and the parents to
have space and it gives the children more autonomy. If this method is employed
it is advised that parents use a battery operated baby monitor or some other device that allows
parents to keep tabs on the child without physically being in the same room. It’s
also not advised for newborns.
5. Separate Rooms with the
Child Being Welcomed into the Parent’s Bed as Needed
This tactic utilizes the
separate rooms method described above while also allowing the child to enter
the parents’ bed if they need to be soothed or have any other issues. This
method becomes a little more popular as children get a bit older and start to
encounter nightmares or other nighttime issues.
The sleeping arrangements listed above do
not constitute a comprehensive list. There are other ways parents can handle
where their child sleeps, but these are just some of the most popular and
widely used. Many new parents find that they need to experiment with several
different tactics before they find the perfect one for their family. Some
parents even find that it is helpful to utilize a combination of these methods.
Parents have also discovered that certain sleeping arrangements are more
conducive to certain ages than others. Hopefully, the above options will give
you an idea of where a good place to sleep for your child might be.