How to Decide on Sleeping with a Newborn
Making the decision whether to share a bed with your infant is just one of the many choices you will make during her first days and weeks at home. But the choice may not be so simple, with experts differing on recommendations about the safety and benefits to both your baby and you. An informed decision will help you reach an outcome that works best for your family while keeping your new baby̵7;s best interests at heart.
Instructions
Benefits of Cosleeping
Decide if breastfeeding would be enhanced through close proximity to your baby. According to a study in the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Journal," cited in a Fox News article, mothers who share a bed while breastfeeding produce more milk and are able to nurse more easily and for a longer period of time. Consider sharing a bed to help your baby thrive. According to Dr. William Sears, a well-known attachment parenting expert and prolific author on parenting, babies who ̶0;sleepshare̶1; will better reach their full potential physically, intellectually and emotionally. Check on your baby̵7;s welfare more often at night. According to Professor James J. McKenna, director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame and the world̵7;s leading authority on cosleeping, sleeping with your infant can help you arouse 30 percent more often. This will allow you to check on your baby̵7;s needs and well-being, which may help prevent the too-deep sleep in babies that can contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Problems With Cosleeping
Commit to not drinking alcohol or smoking if you plan to cosleep with your baby. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these habits increase your baby̵7;s risk of SIDS. Adjust your sleep area when cosleeping to enhance your baby̵7;s safety. According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, dangers of cosleeping include suffocation hazards such as quilts and pillows or strangulation hazards from your baby falling between the wall or headboard and bed. Your baby can also get tangled in nearby cords or your hair if it is long. To help prevent these situations, check your baby̵7;s sleep area and make adjustments beforehand. Prepare for sleep issues that might arise. KidsHealth.org mentions the possibility that sharing a bed could prevent you from getting a good night̵7;s sleep, or could lead to going-to-sleep issues when you are not available to lay next to your baby as she is falling asleep. Research online for suggestions on how to work through these situations as they occur to ensure everyone gets a good night̵7;s sleep.
