Advice for Coddling Parents: Put Baby to Bed Alone

**ablaye** · #1 06-21-2009, 04:09 PM

Entire volumes have been written about the subject of infant sleep - getting babies to sleep, keeping them asleep, making sure their sleep environment is safe.

One topic of continued debate among parents is co-sleeping, or bed-sharing, a common practice in countries outside the U.S. Fueled by increasing evidence, however, more pediatricians and sleep experts are dissuading parents from sharing a bed or a bedroom with their babies, recommending instead that babies be allowed to learn how to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. Studies suggest that establishing independent and healthy sleep habits early in infancy not only improves babies' daily mood and behavior, but may also have long-term implications for their overall health and well-being. Children who don't sleep enough may be at increased risk of being overweight and having emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescence and adulthood, for example.

Read more at Advice for Coddling Parents: Put Baby to Bed Alone - Yahoo! News

**esper_d** · #2 08-24-2009, 03:30 AM

I, too, have researched this topic and have to disagree. If done properly, co-sleeping is the safest option for a baby since you are nearby to respond if he or she stops breathing. The correct way includes a firm mattress, no loose blankets on baby (swaddle instead) and do not let the baby sleep with someone who uses drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.

**jhall** · #3 08-29-2009, 11:48 AM

I do not like sleeping with my infant in my bed but do not see a problem with them being in the same room. That I think is a personal decision that only that only the parents can make. What I have found that has made a big difference in my childrens sleeping patterns is that I was advised with my twins to wake them every 2-3 hours and nurse them even during the night. Well this waking after a few hours of sleep has been difficult to break them of. With my second child this was not advised and she often even as a newborn slept for several 4-6 at one time. This was a great relief to me especially since my twins that were 2 at the time were still not sleeping throught the night. They are now going on 4 and for them most part sleep through the night but not always. Not sure if it is just mine of if others have had this problem as well.

**AG1976** · #4 08-29-2009, 09:14 PM

I co-slept with my son when he was an infant because that was the manner in which he (and I) got the most sleep. He disliked sleeping in a crib and would wake up repeatedly throughout the night when we tried one.

I agree that families should do whatever works best in their situation.

**Healthy Momma** · #5 09-04-2009, 10:22 PM

We co-slept with our son until he was 9. He was the one who decided it was time to sleep in his own room. He started sleep with us because we figured out real quick that he slept through the night when he was with us. He was a great baby and I never ever had a problem with him. He wasn't moody at all. So I have to disagree with you on this one. It worked out wonderfully for us.

**Toddler Mom** · #6 09-07-2009, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by esper_d

I, too, have researched this topic and have to disagree. If done properly, co-sleeping is the safest option for a baby since you are nearby to respond if he or she stops breathing. The correct way includes a firm mattress, no loose blankets on baby (swaddle instead) and do not let the baby sleep with someone who uses drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.

I have to agree with you, esper. My toddler has been sleeping in our bed, since she was 3 months old. In fact, all my friends co-sleep with their babies and as long as the precautions you've mentioned are kept in mind, everything will be alright and it will be just as safe. Plus, co-sleeping is not coddling. It is akin to bonding. There is nothing wrong with it as long as its done properly.

**AutismMom** · #7 09-07-2009, 01:21 PM

Coddling or spoiling is impossible to a child under 6 months. I still can't comprehend how anyone could be stupid enough to think that cuddling or comforting a small baby- which is meeting their needs for human love- is coddling or spoiling. It's just cruel to let a baby cry. It doesn't teach them anything. The ability to connect actions to events doesn't come until later.

**fireladyst2** · #8 09-08-2009, 07:15 PM

I think that if a child co-sleeps with you is really a family decision. For us, when my daughter was first born she slept in a basinet beside me. That really made it easier for me to feed her all hours of the night. After that we put her in her own room with a video monitor over the crib. She actually loves sleeping by herself. When we all do end up going to sleep together none of us sleep since we are all active, loud sleepers.

**fairywiththepen** · #9 09-10-2009, 07:04 AM

I,with my personal experience,think that infant co-sleeping is a better way to make your child feel that you are there for him or her always so that he can be more social and satisfied which helps him or her to be a better Human-being.

**Violet2** · #10 10-03-2009, 10:02 PM

The article is ridiculous. So indigenous cultures who cosleep and have no obesity are....? I guess not being able to read the memo is helpful sometimes! The ethnocentric bias is flashing in neon here.

How about an article that urges parents to do 'what works'?

We were committed to cosleeping but it didn't work well for us. If we have another child I will do it again just because it's easier to cosleep and nurse, but once we're done nursing baby gets the ol' heave ho.

V