Raising your children is surely the most difficult and demanding task you will ever have to face (if you decide to have them, of course). All parents and experts have advice and the so-called "formula" that will make everything go smoothly. Constant opinions can be overwhelming and as in everything, there is also a lot of debate about the rest of our children: is it good for them to sleep next to their parents?
Against the co-bed
The "co-bed" is nothing more than sharing a bed with your children. Many people advocate that children from an early age sleep in beds and rooms separately from their parents.
One of the reasons this is often advocated is because of the need for a child to have their own space: sleeping away from their parents generates greater independence. If a baby gets used to sleeping constantly with their parents, having to do it separately will make it much more difficult for them to fall asleep since there are no specific conditions that help them sleep: the body heat of other people, the feeling of protection, the sound of their breaths ...
Beyond generating a dependency to sleep, it can also cause a great emotional dependence (both of the child for their parents and of the parents for their child).
It is also true that many of the people who are used to sleeping next to their parents or next to their children end up developing sleeping disorders such as insomnia due to the discomfort of their company (caused by movements, noise, bruxism ...)
On the other hand, sleeping in family can damage the parents' relationship, as it reduces the chances of having moments of intimacy, in addition to sleep, which is a vital part for the proper functioning of a relationship.
In favor of sleeping next to your children
The advantages of sleeping together should be seen from the different ages of the child: the first reason in favor of this is always breastfeeding. With newborn babies it is important to have a greater bond and proximity, both for the attachment to your baby and for the comfort. When sleeping next to a nursing baby, breastfeeding is much easier at night, especially if you sleep close and the little one has a free way to the breast.
One of the biggest sleep thieves in being a new parent is your baby's well-being. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the crib in the room to check from time to time that the child is breathing well and that they are not in any bad postures. This can infinitely reassure the parent, helping them to sleep better.
For slightly older children, it has been seen that sleeping with their parents in seasons where they tend to have more nightmares, night terrors or sleep paralysis, helps them sleep better and in the case of waking up many times at night, to go back to sleep sooner.
At any age, it is proven that the experience of sleeping next to someone reinforces the bonds of attachment.
Is there a clear answer?
The truth is that no. Every family, every parent and every child has a certain way of being: some are more prone to sleeping difficulties and others are more independent. Our advice is that each parent does what they think is the right thing to do, of course, as long as it does not harm the health of any member of the family.
And our highest recommendation is having a large mattress, so that whatever happens, there is always room for everyone.