How long should an infant sleep in your room?

Question

He is three months and daddy will not let him sleep outside of the room. I just don't want him to get used to sleeping in the same room and have to break him of it when he older.

Answer 1

My toddler is still sleeping in my room. Most of the children in my family cosleep and go into their own beds when they want-from 2 to 3. For infants, it prevents SIDS
Since research suggests that infants at risk of SIDS have a diminished arousal response during sleep, it seems logical that anything that increases the infant's arousability from sleep or the mother's awareness of her infant during sleep may decrease the risk of SIDS. That's exactly what sleeping with your baby can do. Here are the vital roles a sleep-sharing mother plays:

DR. SEARS SIDS HYPOTHESIS:

I believe that in most cases SIDS is a sleep disorder, primarily a disorder of arousal and breathing control during sleep. All the elements of natural mothering, especially breastfeeding and sharing sleep, benefit the infant's breathing control and increase the mutual awareness between mother and infant so that their arousability is increased and the risk of SIDS decreased.



Mother acts as pacemaker. A major part of my sleep-sharing hypothesis is that mother can act as a breathing pacemaker for her baby. Picture what happens when mother and baby sleep side by side. Mother acts like a breathing pacemaker for her baby during sleep. Together they develop what we call "sleep harmony." Both members of the sleeping pair have simultaneous sleep stages, perhaps not perfectly attuned and not all night long, but close enough that they are mutually aware of each other's presence without disturbing each other's sleep. Because of this mutual sensitivity, as baby normally cycles from deep sleep into light sleep, the presence of the mother raises baby's arousability and awareness. As previously discussed the lack of arousability or ascending out of deep sleep may characterize infants at risk for SIDS. Countless times a mother has said to me, "I automatically awaken just before my baby starts to stir and I nurse her back to sleep. Usually neither of us fully awakens, and we both quickly drift back to sleep."

While watching Martha sleep next to our babies, I noticed how frequently she would attend to our infant's nighttime needs, often without even waking up. Several times throughout the night she would adjust baby's covers, nurse, or do whatever seemed right for baby's well-being.

This sleeping arrangement does not imply that a mother should think of herself as a lifeguard, keeping watch every sleeping hour, day and night, for six months or feel that she is an inadequate parent if she chooses not to do so. This attitude puts fear into and takes the joy out of nighttime parenting. I'm simply talking about forgetting cultural norms and doing what comes naturally. Don't feel that you must never let your baby sleep alone or that you must go to bed early with baby every night. Remember that SIDS is a relatively uncommon occurrence, not a nightly threat to your baby's life.

Mother fills in a missing ingredient. In the early months, much of a baby's night is spent in active sleep— the state in which babies are most easily aroused. As we discussed previously, this state may "protect" the infant against stop-breathing episodes. From one to six months, the time of primary concern about SIDS, the percentage of active sleep decreases, and quiet, or deeper, sleep increases. More deep sleep means that babies start to sleep through the night. That's the good news. The concern, however, is that as baby learns to sleep deeper, it is more difficult for him to arouse when there is an apnea episode, and the risk of SIDS increases. By six months, the baby's cardiopulmonary regulating system has matured enough that the breathing centers in the brain are better able to restart breathing, even in deep sleep. But there is a vulnerable period between one and six months when the sleep is deepening, yet the compensatory mechanisms are not yet mature. During the time baby is at risk, mother fills in. In fact, mother sleeps like a baby until the baby is mature enough to sleep like an adult. That warm body next to baby acts as a breathing pacemaker, sort of reminding baby to breathe, until the baby's self-start mechanisms can handle the job on their own. (See Sleep Safety)

Answer 2

I have 3 children, 7, 3 and 9 months. All of my children slept in my room with me and sometimes even in my bed. It was very convienient for the both of us. However, once they began to sleep thru the night I moved them to their own rooms. This is a very controversial parenting issue and as you know you will find people that feel strongly on both sides. But all in all, you as the mother need to do what is most comfortable for you and your baby. And don't let anyone shame you for it either way. If your son is sleeping thru the night, then try it out. If not by all means keep him in your room till he is. I think the biggest concern here is that at around this age a baby learns to self soothe... so if your son wakes up give him a minute to settle back in before you jump. (not saying let him scream... but it certainly is good for him to fuss a little). And most of all enjoy this time you have, they are only babies for such a short time.

Answer 3

My first son slept in my room until he began sleeping through the night at 9 months. He slept in a family heirloom cradle for the first 3 months then we moved him to a crib because another family baby was coming and needed the cradle. My second son is 3 months and is sleeping in my room until he's sleeping through the night. He slept in the bassinet portion of his play yard until about 2 months. At that point we felt the support wasn't strong enough so we removed the bassinet and for now he's sleeping in the bottom of the play yard. He'll move into a crib when he moves out of our room.

Answer 4

If you want to put your baby to sleep in 20 seconds you must get the "Instant Baby Sleep" MP3 sound track. Here is their official web-site: http://www.instantbabysleep.net

The sound track gently produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the Alpha state well known for drowsiness and sleep induction.

Answer 5

My son slept in my room in his bassinet until he was 4 1/2 months, my daughter was out of the bassinet and in her own room at 2 months. Maybe you just need to talk to your husband and figure out why he doesn't want the baby to sleep in its own room.

Answer 6

That all depends on the parents. My daughter never slept in the room with me. And my sister and I never slept in the room with our parents. The night they brought us back from the hospital we were in our own nursery. I did that with my daughter and it worked great! I'd start having him sleep in his own room now that way you don't have a huge problem getting him to adjust when he's older.

Answer 7

Until you are confortable with the baby in the next room, my daughter slept in my room for three months before she went to the nursery. Its what you are confortable with. You jsut dont want them in there when they are one and two because than they think thats were they are suposed to sleep.

Answer 8

My daughter never slept with us, we didnt want to get in the habit of it and her be 5 years old and still want to sleep with us.

Answer 9

If hes in his own bed in your room that seems ok. Heck at 3 months in your bed seems ok

Answer 10

My daugher slept in her crib, in her room from the first day home. It's up to you what you decide though.