Here's a subject that's got parents talking and divided!
For or against? Fashion or a real need for infants?
We tell you all about it 🙂
What is co-sleeping?
Cododo or co-sleeping is the practice of sharing a room or bed with your child. There are many different ways of doing this: sleeping in the same bed as your baby, placing your baby in a bed next to the parental bed, or using a special bed next to your own.
While it's an obvious choice for some parents, for others it can be a reluctant one.
Is co-sleeping a fad or a real need for infants?
With the movement towards proximal mothering, co-sleeping is making a comeback!
While it is the norm in traditional societies, it is a real mode of parenting in Western countries.
According to a study conducted by the Institut du sommeil et de la vigilance in 2019, 25% of French people sleep in the same bed as their child under the age of 2. This figure may seem significant for a country like France, which often lags behind in terms of proximal mothering customs. However, if we look at Scandinavian countries, co-sleeping is becoming the norm. In fact, according to a study published in the journal Early Human Development, 65% of parents in Sweden share their room with their baby.
Reassuring for parents and babies alike, co-sleeping has benefits for everyone's sleep.
The idea of sleeping with your baby close to you and being able to smell his or her scent, soft skin and heartbeat is particularly soothing. The practice also has numerous benefits:
- Cododo makes it easier for the baby to move from one sleep phase to the next, because he can synchronize himself with your breathing. If your baby suffers from sleep apnea, your breathing will help him find a more regular rhythm.
- Breastfeeding and co-sleeping go hand in hand. In fact, a mother who breastfeeds will find her lactation stimulated by the presence of her baby, and won't need to get up to feed him. A plus for getting a few minutes' sleep 😉
- It also helps regulate body temperature at night. The parents' body heat maintains a stable temperature, so there's no need to over-cover the child sleeping with you.
- What's more, like skin-to-skin and babywearing, co-sleeping promotes attachment between parents and newborn. These practices have one ultimate goal: to satisfy children's need for physical contact and emotional bonding. It's also been proven that having your baby close to you allows the body to release stress-reducing hormones.
So, as you can see, co-sleeping has many advantages, but it's also essential for meeting the needs of newborn babies. In fact, the WHO recommends sleeping with your baby for the first 6 months of life.
Of course, as with any cot, care must be taken not to put anything in it that could interfere with the baby's airways. No pillows, blankets, comforters or stuffed toys should be present.
Likewise, if one of the parents has been drinking alcohol or taking medication, put baby in a separate bed for his or her own safety.
So, now you know all, or almost all, about co-sleeping!
And don't forget: whether you're a fan or not, the important thing is to find your own balance!