New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system. When I gave birth to my daughter four years ago, I was surprised by how swiftly she was taken away from me. Shortly after my C-section, the nurses took her out of the room, cleaned and swaddled her, and put her in a clear bassinet on wheels, which was placed next to the bed where I was recovering.
That little crib would be her home for the next five days in the hospital. At night, they would not let her sleep in my bed, insisting it risked her safety, so she slept in that little box. I had carried Ella in my own body for nine months, feeling her heartbeat and her every movement. That she was suddenly away from me felt like a loss. According to the AAP, doctors worry that exhausted parents will crush their newborns by rolling onto them, or suffocate them by accidentally putting their hands on their tiny faces.
The organization also makes frequent references to the statistic that 3, babies die every year from sudden infant death syndrome SIDS and accidental strangulation or suffocation in the United States.
A closer look at the data reveals that most of these cases involve parents who are drunk or have taken drugs, but more on that soon. At the same time, I had an overwhelming desire to be with her around the clock and cradle her as we both slept. It seemed totally unnatural to sleep away from her. After nine months in my womb, my daughter craved the comfort and warmth of my body, and I yearned for the opportunity to bond with her in those early days, when we were just getting to know one another.
Research suggests that physical intimacy between parents and children, as well as direct skin-to-skin contact, has a host of physical and emotional benefits for newborns. Would you like to see beds like this in all maternity hospitals? Having your baby next to you in her own sleeping space means you can easily be alerted to any potential breathing issues she might experience during the night.
Every parent understands why bringing your baby into bed is tempting. Not to mention those cuddles! But bed-sharing can be dangerous, so avoid the temptation. And bed-sharing is one of the most common causes of death in babies, especially those younger than 3 months. When your little one sleeps on anything other than a mattress with a tight sheet and nothing else nearby, it increases her risk of SIDS, especially in the first six months of life.
Soft or loose bedding, pillows and adult bed mattresses all pose potential suffocation hazards for babies. And for really tired, deep-sleeping parents, the risk of rolling over onto baby which can lead to suffocation is real, as is the chance that she could fall off the bed. The risk of SIDS goes up if you smoke or drink alcohol. Ultimately, sleeping with your baby on the same surface is not safe at any time. To promote safe sleep , you should room-share but never bed-share with your baby.
But once your baby reaches the 4- to 6-month mark, she may be waking out of habit, not because she needs to. Sleep training, also known as sleep teaching or soothing training, means teaching your baby to fall back to sleep on her own when she wakes up at night. The goal is for you and your little one to get more sleep, even though at first, you may have to deal with some tears. Your baby should be at least 4- to 6 months old before beginning sleep training, because by that age she probably no longer needs nighttime feedings though be sure to check with your pediatrician , she's developmentally ready and she understands that crying usually leads to being held.
Remember that sleep training is a personal decision that may or may not be right for your family. What is a Co-Sleeper? Pros of a Co-Sleeper Nurtures the Bond: Since co-sleepers are usually attached next to the bed, they help to enhance the love and bond between newborns and parents. Avoids the Hassle: With co-sleepers, new parents find it easy to soothe and feed the baby without getting out of their beds.
Easy to Adjust: Co-sleepers are usually very functional as their height can be adjusted according to the bed. Enhances the Diurnal Cycle: By keeping babies close to their parents, co-sleepers allow new parents and infants to sleep better. Cons of a Co-Sleeper Limited Usage: Co-sleepers are only functional before your baby can roll over or is pushing up to sit. It also depends on the weight limit of the co-sleeper and the size of your baby vs.
What is a Bassinet? Dream On Me Karley Bassinet. They are lightweight, easy to move, foldable, and require little room. They also keep the babies safe against bugs, flies, mosquitoes, etc. Affordable: Bassinets are usually very reasonably priced and less expensive than other sleeping options. Versatile: They come in plenty of sizes, colors, designs, and materials to cater to the needs of parents of all types. Cons of Bassinet Weight Limit: Usually, bassinets are made up of mesh walls and can usually accommodate a child weighing up to 25 lbs.
Cannot be Used for Toddlers: Although they have sidewalls, bassinets are not safe for toddlers as they are not very heavy and sturdy.
Furthermore, they are compact and can only fit kids up to a certain height. However, you can still choose bassinet sheets keeping the important safety guidelines in mind. Co Sleeper vs Bassinet Now that you know the pros and cons of each, it will be easier for you to understand what is a better choice between a co sleeper vs bassinet. If you prefer sleeping with the baby and have understood the risks involved in bed-sharing, co-sleepers are a great choice for you.
Furthermore, if your baby is very sensitive, premature, or you are a breastfeeding mom, co-sleepers are sure to add convenience to your life. If your baby sleeps well throughout the night and you are more concerned if your baby develops unhealthy sleeping habits, you must opt for a bassinet. Deciding Factors While Selecting Between Baby Sleeping Options If you are still confused between all the available options out there, here are a few pointers that you must consider while purchasing a baby sleeper: Space If you have limited space, you must understand which sleeping option is more space-efficient.
For an added benefit, that lighter sleep, or REM Rapid Eye Movement sleep, is also important for synaptogenesis , the rapid growth of connections between neurons, in newborns. And that longer sleep has implications for parent-child interactions in the daytime. Research suggests that more well-rested parents make better decisions and, importantly, have better emotion regulation. Sleep deprivation also raises the risk of postpartum depression. Fathers who bedshare benefit in other ways, too: One study found that when fathers slept close to their babies, their testosterone dropped more compared to fathers who slept separately.
Men with lower testosterone tend to engage in more sensitive and responsive parenting, which means that bedsharing may make for better fathering. Families who choose to cosleep beyond infancy but worry it makes children overly dependent can relax. On average, children who bedshare do tend to transition to sleeping independently about a year later than other children, but they may be more independent, self-reliant, and confident in their daily lives than children who did not bedshare.
A small study of 83 preschoolers found that children who slept alone from an early age fell asleep more on their own and slept more through the night, but the preschoolers who coslept from an early age were more likely to dress themselves, entertain themselves, and work out problems with peers on their own. Another study of families showed that by age 18, children who bedshared did not differ from solitary sleepers in their sleep problems or mental health.
In other words, as children grow, many different factors contribute to their well-being. Most parents have a natural inclination to sleep protectively near their babies, and data suggest that cosleeping is on the increase.
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