“Co-sleeping is the usual practice in preindustrial societies around the world where there are no special beds for babies to sleep safely by themselves. Co-sleeping on mats on the floor is a cultural norm in Asia, where the family traditionally co-sleeps together in the same room.
Families in predominantly Asian countries and regions such as Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, or China co-sleep much more frequently than in the United States.
For 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.
Breastfeeding mothers and babies sharing sleep is a biologically normal behaviour, while formula feeding and separate sleep are departures from the norm. It is these behaviours that need to be shown to be effective and safe, not the other way round.
Bedsharing in young children, and relations to sleep health
Bedsharing among children is ostensibly common. In a recent cross-cultural analysis of sleep habits in children ages 3–6 years, approximately 13.1% of U.S. caregivers reported sharing a bed with their child (Mindell et al., 2013).
Year after the year, Japan is one of the countries with one of the lowest infant mortality rates. There are a few reasons why this may be: They have lower rates of maternal smoking and alcohol consumption — and research has shown that both maternal smoking and prenatal drinking increase a child's SIDS risk.
“Co-sleeping is the usual practice in preindustrial societies around the world where there are no special beds for babies to sleep safely by themselves. Co-sleeping on mats on the floor is a cultural norm in Asia, where the family traditionally co-sleeps together in the same room.
Co-sleeping is a common practice globally. Considered to be a form of affection, co-sleeping, also known as bed-sharing, is common in many cultures worldwide, with one Canadian study reporting 57% of mothers born in Asia practicing this tradition [1].
A pediatrician said co-sleeping should not happen before 12 months and should stop at prepuberty. Co-sleeping can disrupt sleep for both children and parents.
More recently, the highest SIDS rates (>0.5/1000 live births) are in New Zealand and the United States. The lowest rates (<0.2/1000) are in Japan and the Netherlands.
With traditional Japanese bedding, mothers rarely place themselves over infants, while co-sleeping is often performed in a sofa or soft bedding in other countries (Tackett et al. 2010). As deaths caused by co-sleeping/breastfeeding in the side-lying position are preventable, we believe they should not occur.
Bed-sharing means sleeping in the same bed as your baby, or sharing the same sleeping surface. Co-sleeping means sleeping in close proximity to your baby, sometimes in the same bed and sometimes nearby in the same room (room-sharing).
There is nothing wrong with having multiple sexual partners, as long as everyone involved consents and is free from harm. There can be benefits and risks to having more than one partner. To practice safe sex, make sure to use barrier methods and have regular STI testing.
A vast amount of scientific evidence points to the role of co-sleeping in the evolution of infant sleep regulation, as co-sleeping is part of an ancient behavioral complex (including breastfeeding) representing the biopsychosocial microenvironment in which human infants co-evolved with their mothers through millions of ...
It increases the risk of SIDS and suffocation
Parents or objects (like pillows or blankets) may unknowingly roll onto the baby at night, leading to injury, suffocation, or death. The AAP says co-sleeping is especially dangerous if the baby is younger than 4 months, was born prematurely, or had a low birth weight.
Physical contact, in close cosleeping, helps babies to "breathe more regularly, use energy more efficiently, grow faster, and experience less stress," says McKenna. Babies, too, who are not necessarily breastfed, as in the case of adoption, will also naturally reap the many other benefits of such close contact.
Higher self-esteem. Boys who co-slept with their parents between birth and five years of age had significantly higher self-esteem and experienced less guilt and anxiety. For women, co- sleeping during childhood was associated with less discomfort about physical contact and affection as adults (Lewis & Janda, 1988).
Although some parents see benefits to co-sleeping with their child, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend it. It's much safer for your infant or toddler to sleep alone in their own bed.
In fact, research shows that while co-sleeping may result in a temporary dependence on a parent, in the longer term it results in a child who is more resilient, gaining the skill of solo sleeping when they are more able to cope. A child who co-sleeps also does not necessarily continue to co-sleep.
Couples of all types — straight, gay, young, old, healthy couples or those facing illness — experience all sorts of challenges when it comes to the shared sleep experience. Over 60 percent of us are sleeping together, according to one study done in the US.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the best place for a baby to sleep is in his parents' bedroom. He should sleep in his own crib or bassinet (or in a co-sleeper safely attached to the bed), but shouldn't be in his own room until he is at least 6 months, better 12 months.
Although sleeping with your back to your partner and a space in between you might not seem too romantic, one study found it's the most common of all couple sleeping positions, likely because it's practical. Twenty-seven percent of the couples surveyed for the study identified this position as their primary one.
A survey of over 3,400 new parents, carried out by The Lullaby Trust, has shown that 9 in 10 co-sleep with their baby.
Baby should sleep in their own cot, in your room, for the first twelve months. No soft or puffy bedding and don't use pillows. Make sure baby's face and head are uncovered.
Bed-sharing is standard practice in many parts of the world outside of North America, Europe and Australia, and even in the latter areas a significant minority of children have shared a bed with their parents at some point in childhood.