Co sleeping with children?

Question

What are your thought on co-sleeping?

Does anyone know how many deaths of SIDS when babies co-sleep?
I personally have never heard of a baby dying of SIDs if co-sleeping.

Do you think the risk of SIDS is lowered by co-sleeping?

If you dont agree with co-sleeping, why?

Answer 1

Well the pamphlet I got from the governent (Canada) which obviously I can't link to says "Bedsharing may not reduce the risk of SIDS". Which considering the pressure from crib manufacturers is a pretty strong statement.

http://www.babyreference.com/Cosleeping&SIDSFactSheet.htm

"SIDS Studies have proven that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is greatly reduced for the breastfeeding, co-sleeping baby, when with non-smoking, sober parents in a standard adult bed with wedging dangers removed. The practice of room-sharing or breastfeeding alone cuts SIDS rates considerably. When combined with safe co-sleeping, the infant survival chances are even higher."
http://www.babyreference.com/sleepingandSIDS.htm

"Cosleeping is twice as safe: how the stats really stack up - Special Issue"
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_2002_Sept-Oct/ai_102980253

https://www.infactcanada.ca/action_alert_Oct_2105_1.htm

CO-SLEEPING AND 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)
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp#T071006

Answer 2

Babies have died co-sleeping & it's usually because the parent is heavily intoxicated & has suffocated the baby or because the baby has become stuck between mattresses or pillows on a lounge. Also they say that the risk of SIDS is increased when a baby sleeps with a parent that smokes. I don't know why but apparantly there have been many SIDS cases in these circumstances.

I am an avid supporter of co-sleeping & have done it with all of my 3 children (although they do have their own rooms & unused beds) from birth. I have read many times that co-sleeping may decrease the risk of SIDS because the baby unconsciously follows the mother's breathing patterns & doesn't 'forget' to breathe. I have read sooooo much information on this subject that it has almost become confusing so i just go with my own instincts.

Answer 3

We co-sleep and love it. Sure, it has it's risks but so do many things. As you can see for yourself, there are a high number of parents that do co-sleep and their children are just fine. I'm sure that it is rare for a baby to actually be smothered. I also believe that co-sleeping is not for everybody. If you know you are not a light sleeper for example, you probably shouldn't co-sleep. I, however, am a light sleeper and trusted that I was making the best choice for us. Also, my child is not growing up to be whiny and spoiled. I'm not really sure why you would think that co-sleeping would cause either of those traits. Just because we co-sleep doesn't mean that she gets whatever she wants. I WANT her there....the rest of the day, I teach her that she should appreciate what she has and not expect things to just be given to her. That is what will help her learn not to be spoiled or whiny. By the way....for the idiot at the top of here.....get off your high horse and stop making assumptions about things you know nothing about. Not that it's any of your business but I did vaccinate my daughter and I don't even see what that has to do with co-sleeping.

Answer 4

I think that the benefits far outweigh the risks of co-sleeping. "Attachment parenting" produces confident, self assured, strong children & adults.
Personally, I find it sickening that parents push a brand new baby into its own bed. I could never do that, and am always a bit heart broken to hear that people do that.
I fall in the middle as both of my kids slept with me for most of their first year and then off & on from there. Im all for co-sleeping and took a lot of crap from my mom and some freinds for it.
I have Never heard of any links between sids and co-sleeping - that is just based in fear and ignorance.

Answer 5

Not sure if co-sleeping increases or decreases SIDS but it does increase the chances of a parent rolling on the child while your sleeping. A lot of people co-sleep and enjoy it, I personally do not do that as I know its hard to break once its started and your only making it worse for baby as get attached to sleeping with you and once your ready to put them in their own bed they cry and fuss, and have a hard time adjusting. Put a bassinet right up close to the bed so you can still have them near you but that way you can't accidently roll on them.

Answer 6

Not sure how many but there are definitely deaths from young children sleeping in the family bed. All it takes is an exhausted parent to fling their arm in the wrong direction or pull the covers to their own neck in their sleep to suffocate a baby or small child. Also, it sets up a bad situation for the future. It may be comforting to both parent and child to snuggle but there comes a time when it is either inappropriate to still be co-sleeping or it is inconvenient. The sooner the habit is broken, the easier it is for child and parent to fall asleep in their own bed alone. It is your life though, so if you are happy with the arrangement and the child is guaranteed to be safe, then go ahead. Co-sleeping is nothing new.

Answer 7

I co-slept for the first 3 months and I loved it. Everyone slept better and I think it's kind of more natural. Humans are one of the only mammals they stick their newborn in a seperate place for sleep.

Answer 8

There was a report just the other day of a mother that rolled on top of her baby during the night and killed the baby. I wouldn't co-sleep because of this possibility.

Answer 9

I agree, I always had my newborns in bed with me.
I breastfed and it was easier to fed them through the night if they were right next to me.
I also feel it's part of the bonding process to be close to the baby at all times.
My opinion.

Answer 10

it all depends on how long you let them sleep with you. me, personally, i would have a basinet in my room for at least 3-4 months. after that in their own room. by co-sleeping it could cause problems in the future when they get older. they will want to sleep with you in your room and in your bed and not their own.