Raising a baby is not easy, especially in today’s nuclear setup where most mothers are working. An old saying that it requires an entire village to raise a family is quite true. There are many questions and dilemmas new mothers and new fathers face. One of them is to co-sleep with your baby or not. Traditionally, in India, we believe in co-sleeping with babies till they are a little older. So, when and how to stop co-sleeping with your baby?
This question may not have a straight answer with many factors at play. Co-sleeping in the initial months and years of your baby’s life may lead them to getting dependent on you. Breaking this habit is not easy. So, what can be done in this situation? Read ahead to know more.
In This Article
- What is Co-Sleeping?
- How Common is Co-Sleeping in India?
- Is Co-Sleeping a Hard Habit to Break in Babies?
- At What Age Should You Stop Co-Sleeping With Your Baby?
- How Do I Get My Baby to Sleep Alone After Co-Sleeping?
- How Does Co-Sleeping Affect Your Child Later?
- FAQ’s
What is Co-Sleeping?
Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies sleep with their parents or a kind of bed-sharing practice with your parents. It is a common practice that is followed in many parts of the world, especially for infants. Some cultures believe in co-sleeping and bed-sharing while others get their babies to sleep separately at a very early age.
How Common is Co-Sleeping in India?
Co-sleeping is extremely common in many countries such as USA, UK, Europe, And Japan. However, in countries such as India, parents continue to share their beds with their babies and even older children. This tradition of co-sleeping involves a baby sleeping with one or both parents due to the following reasons.
- Co-sleeping keeps their infant close
- It facilitates nursing
- Night-time care is easier
- Co-sleeping fosters closeness and togetherness
- It helps create bonding between parents and the baby
[Read : Bonding With Your Baby]
Is Co-Sleeping a Hard Habit to Break in Babies?
Although it can be a difficult habit to break, co-sleeping with a baby can also be a terrific way to interact with your baby if you are away at work all day. It could be simpler to break the habit sooner rather than later since your infant is more prone to behavioral change at a younger age. It may be necessary for the shift to begin gradually, but that’s acceptable.
Co-sleeping with a baby can be challenging to stop. But doing this slowly and gradually can make the transition a bit less difficult for you and the baby. However, because this is not a simple undertaking, including the entire family will make those night shifts more bearable.
At What Age Should You Stop Co-Sleeping With Your Baby?
For the first six to twelve months, according to safe sleep recommendations, newborns should sleep in the room with their parents on a unique surface intended for infants. This means that you can have a separate bed or crib for your baby in the same room as you are sleeping. We advise introducing your infant to their bed in a separate room as soon as possible after your kid celebrates their first birthday.
There is less need to cease co-sleeping after a year since the danger of SIDs (sudden unexplained infant death) lowers. In case you are co-sleeping with your baby in the same bed, you may transfer them to separate beds anytime you’re ready if you both love co-sleeping and are getting a good night’s sleep.
The longer you co-sleep, the more your infant or toddler will become used to sleeping in your room, making it more difficult to transition them to bed. It’s crucial to remember that sleep associations become stronger with time. If you know that co-sleeping is not your long-term strategy, it is best to make this change as soon as possible.
How Do I Get My Baby to Sleep Alone After Co-Sleeping?
Co-sleeping is discouraged by the AAP at all times, especially when the infant is under four months old. The group also suggests that infants spend at least six months, preferably an entire year, sleeping in a crib or cot in the same room as their parents. It has been demonstrated that this so-called “room-sharing” (which differentiates from bed-sharing) lowers the incidence of SIDS.
Here are a few steps you can follow
- Making the correct sleeping environment is essential to learning how to stop co-sleeping with a baby.
- Make sure your baby is as comfortable as possible in their bedroom before taking any action to cease co-sleeping with them.
- For older children, you can give them the option to participate in choosing their decor, including wall decals, colors, and themes for their room to get them interested in sleeping independently.
- Let your little one get accustomed to their new room and become comfortable with its scents, colors, and everything else. Make sure you play with them frequently and let them spending more time in the room.
- Baby poof the room. Everything should be safe, and there shouldn’t be any loose cables or connections.
- Remember that babies under 12 months old should sleep in their own sleeping bags rather than duvets.
[Read : When Can I Let My Baby Sleep Alone?]
How Does Co-Sleeping Affect Your Child Later?
Your child’s personality may change as they become older if they co-sleep. Here are some other ways that co-sleeping might influence your child’s personality.
With long-term co-sleeping, your child may
- Develop self-esteem issues
- Get too dependent on you
- Have confidence issues
- Struggle in social settings
- Be prone to anxiety
However, some studies suggest co-sleeping children feel more loved and accepted by their parents. The parents’ positive relationship with the kid is influenced by the child’s perception that their parents are aware of their needs.
There are many reasons a parent can decide to cease co-sleeping, but most of the time, it’s because it’s no longer beneficial for them or their child.
To cease co-sleeping with your infant or toddler, make sure all the conditions are right for them to have the best opportunity of relaxing and sleeping well in their bed. Creating a conducive atmosphere for sleep and ensuring that nap times are age-appropriate are two examples of how to do this. It also entails teaching self-soothing skills to older infants and toddlers so they can do it independently when they awaken at night.
FAQ’s
1. Does Co-Sleeping Make a Baby Clingy?
A 2012 study in which 4 to 6-month-old newborns were isolated from their mothers every night found that babies’ cortisol levels (stress hormone) were high even on the third day of sleeping in a separate room. Parents who co-sleep need not fear their baby clinging or reliant. In a 2011 study at New York University, researchers discovered no behavioral or cognitive differences between children who sleep alone at a young age and those who co-sleep with their parents.
2. Does Co-Sleeping Increase Bonding?
According to many studies, when a mother and her infant co-sleep, their brain waves, heart and sleep states, temperature, oxygen levels, and breathing positively influence one another. This result implies that the child’s growth is designed to be safe and regular, similar to an adult’s physique. A baby’s first few months are the most undeveloped and being close to their parent makes them feel warm and comfortable and increases bonding.
3. Can Babies Sense When Their Mother is Near?
Your newborn baby will rapidly recognize you as the one who soothes and feeds them the most, but not as their parent, based on your scent and voice. However, as they grow, understand and learn skills such as recognition, they will start visually recognizing their mother.
Read Also: Sleep Training a Baby – Right Age, Tips and Techniques
