Are Family Beds a Good
Idea?
Another way of approaching
a baby's sleeping problems? Is it an ideal solution, or just a
convenient way out?Perhaps the modern day approach to
establishing a routine for baby which teaches baby to sleep
independently may not necessarily be "correct".
The previous article argues for the necessity
of establishing independent sleeping, as usual the parents have
to decide this. The parents may end up with disturbed
sleep patterns themselves if they allow baby to sleep with
them, from worrying about the possibility that they may roll on
the baby and suffocate it.What happened to newborns sleeping
all day and night? Why is your one year old still not sleeping
through the night? And will your five year old ever choose to
sleep in her own bed all night?
For a few generations the thought of sharing your bed with
your children seemed not just undisciplined but even archaic.
That view still exists in many Western countries. For years
professionals encouraged the trend towards independence in
children as early as possible. Mothers were urged to formula
feed rather than breastfeed. Babies slept alone rather than
with their mothers.
Now a whiplash effect has occurred with many women looking
to return to breastfeeding and the family bed.
Why is it such a controversial topic?
For many new mothers the reports about increased suffocation
risk for infants sleeping in adult beds along with social
pressure to establish an independent child forces them to rise
several times per night and endless daily battles to keep their
unwilling child in a crib.
Is it worth it? Many mothers and fathers are beginning to
say NO.
In a report by Today's Parent magazine, two-thirds of
respondents said they sleep with their baby "sometimes",
"often" or "always". Is it something you should try? If you
already are, is it safe to continue?
Many of the dangers attributed to sleeping in adult beds
comes from studies that included the risk of the baby coming to
harm on the bed itself - by wedging between the mattress and
the wall or other danger - and babies who died from SIDS
(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in which no cause was found.
Despite that fact, professionals who continued to look for
methods of bed sharing that were acceptable were unable to do
so. While sharing a room with the parents has been proven to
cut the risk of SIDS dramatically, sharing a bed just could not
pass the scrutiny of the medical community.
On the other hand, sharing a bed has been a custom for
centuries before average families could afford separate beds,
let alone separate rooms, for each individual in the home. Many
countries still accept this as the norm and often boast good
numbers of healthy infants in the process.
So what will you do? More and more Western families are
seeing benefits of sharing a bed with improved sleep for both
mother and baby. Young children also find comfort in a family
bed. This can be particularly attractive to working mothers who
miss out on time spent with their infants or children through
the day.
However, a word of caution: adults who are intoxicated,
taking sleeping pills or other drugs or are unusually heavy
sleepers ARE a risk to infants since they will not be as aware
of the presence of the baby and could potentially suffocate it.
Infants should also not share beds with other children for the
same reason - they just lack the ability to maintain awareness
of the baby while sleeping.
Mothers who nurse will also find the baby will
likely nurse more frequently in a shared sleeping arrangement.
But both baby and mother will not have to fully awaken and on
average will enjoy longer sleeping periods - a benefit for
everyone in the family. Whatever you decide, you will find many
parents divided on the topic, so find what works for your
family and stick to it!
Read
more:Newborn Baby Sleep
Solutions
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