The benefits of co-sleeping with your newborn baby

Co-sleeping is often thought to be synonymous with bed sharing – also known as letting your baby sleep in the same bed with you. But co-sleeping can also mean putting your baby to sleep in the same room as you, but in a separate bed.

If your baby is six months or younger, experts recommend that healthy infants be placed on their backs for sleep, as this is the safest position for an infant to sleep. Putting your baby to sleep on his back decreases his chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This applies to daytime naps as well as during the night.

Huggies® expert and midwife, Lynne Bluff sheds some light on some of the benefits of co-sleeping with a newborn baby.

Remember for the first three to four months of life, it is recommended to have skin-to-skin between baby, and mom and dad as much as possible. Skin-to-skin is when a baby only has a new baby nappy on and no clothes. The baby is then placed against mom’s bare chest (skin-to-skin), and the baby is wrapped with a shirt or blanket against mom’s or dad’s chest. Many parents choose to co-sleep with their baby because it allows for more skin-to-skin contact.

There are many benefits to co-sleeping! Here are some benefits of keeping your baby close:

Babies naturally fall into a daytime and night time pattern

It isn’t uncommon for newborns to mix up their days and nights. Many babies sleep extra soundly throughout the day, but can be restless or wakeful much of the night. Keeping your baby close during the day with lights and noise around can eventually help the baby stay a bit more alert in the daytime.

Keeping the baby close at night, and meeting their needs with a quiet and dim environment can help them learn to rest more at night. Babies also rest more soundly when they feel secure.

Co-sleeping helps babies practice rousing themselves

Picture: AFP

While having your newborn falling into and staying in a deep sleep might sound appealing, it isn’t the type of sleep they were designed to have. Co-sleeping babies are frequently aroused when close with their moms.

This practice rousing can help babies learn to use their self-preservation instinct to rouse when there’s any danger such as being overheated, being too cold or something blocking their airway. Being able to easily rouse may reduce the risk of SIDS.

Meet your baby’s needs without getting up

Most babies need to be fed, soothed and changed at night. If the baby is close by, mom can do all of these things while in bed and remaining in a restful state. Getting out of bed, walking down the hall, changing nappies on the changing pad, feeding in a glider and soothing a baby back to sleep requires being fully awake and alert.

Experience less night-time crying

Babies sleep well when they feel secure. Knowing their mom is close will likely a help baby sleep better and fuss less. Moms that co-sleep are able to notice earlier signs of hunger and needing to be changed. Often the mom can wake during these early signs and meet her baby’s needs before they begin to cry.

When you co-sleep, there is less trying to get the baby to settle down to sleep before laying them down. This often means less crying. You aren’t likely to have an overtired baby fussing and protesting being laid down in their cot to sleep.

Co-sleeping helps with bonding and secure attachment

A secure attachment between a baby and caregiver is an emotional bond that leaves the baby feeling secure and cared for. This secure attachment, fostered infancy, translates to a child feeling secure and knowing their caregiver will always return to meet their needs. Children with a secure attachment often respond appropriately to situations, show minimal distress when their mother leaves, and are happy when their mother returns.

Co-sleeping helps with maintaining an adequate milk supply

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Feeding on demand helps moms maintain an adequate milk supply. Breast milk production is a supply and demand process. Babies are designed to eat frequently at night, and co-sleeping helps to make it easier for the mom and baby to meet this need.

Co-sleeping can mean better rest for mom

Moms, not just babies, are wired for closeness. Studies show that new moms do not experience a better quality of sleep if their babies go to the nursery at night. Co-sleeping may not guarantee more sound sleep for every mom, but many report sleeping better knowing their baby is safe and close by. Moms also release oxytocin when close to their babies. Oxytocin improves sleep quality and it’s also great for breastfeeding.

As your baby grows, they may not want to sleep all night, every night, with you. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll eventually find a method that works for you, your partner, and your baby.

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