Why do people have such Strong opinions against sleeping with a baby?

Question

Did you know that the rate for SIDS is higher for children who sleep on their own.

And although, yes there are document cases of a baby being squished, it still happens way less than SIDS

Answer 1

I expect it has something to do with not wanting to acknowledge how many babies die in cribs.

Hint: more than die in their parents' beds. Never mind all the recalls of unsafe cribs, or the fact that the cribs people posting here slept in were also "unsafe"... I am _not_ wanting to criticize anybody who doesn't 'co-sleep,' just pointing out that everything has risks.

There's got to be some old wives' nonsense mixed in; it seems, to me, related to the 'cats steal babies' breath away!' myth.


Edited to add: these are some weird answers. Re. "Most of the parenting books I have read say it is ultimately not a good idea" -- those are some weird books. I'm amazed that so much of what's common in the world is vilified by Americans.

And, as for those co-sleeper things that attach to the side of the bed that somebody mentioned? Those do look wonderful.

Answer 2

My only objection to sleeping with a young child is that the child tends to have a hard time sleeping on its own later. Theres such a hassle and a lot of hurt feelings and drama when it comes time to move baby to his/her own bed. Its also disruptive to the intimate life of the parents, causing unnecessary distance and friction.

I don't have a problem with letting a sick or nursing baby fall asleep with the parents rarely, but more than that is a bad idea.

Answer 3

I had each one of my four girls sleep with me. I had c-sections for each and nursed them all. It is hard to keep getting up after that kind of surgery and this is likely how it started. I nursed them until age 2 at which time I got them a little bed and never had any problem getting them transitioned to it. I found I always knew exactly where that baby was every second like an instinct. I imagine it would not be safe for someone who drank or is not alert but I never had a problem.

Answer 4

I dont have anything against it. The only problem I see is that children often end up not being able to sleep on their own. I let our daughter sleep with us in the mornings because I was nursing her. That way, we could all go back to sleep. It was lovely having her in our bed for a few hours, but not the whole night. When I weaned her, she had no problem sleeping all night in her own bed. Unfortunately, many of my friends have kids who sleep with them for years, and often will ONLY sleep ON TOP of mom or dad. Bummer! I am only 21, and still like having a sex life with my husband, lol!

Answer 5

I love sleeping with my children when they are babies, unfortunately, my husband is a VERY heavy sleeper (he even squishes me in his sleep sometimes lol). I think that these new cosleepers you can put in the bed (that protect the baby from being squished) or the ones that attach to the side of the bed are wonderful.

Answer 6

I don't understand either. Cosleeping can be done safely. And research shows that there are many benefits. It helps newborns regulate their temperature and their breathing. More babies die of SIDS alone in cribs than in a bed with parents. It makes breastfeeding easier and everyone in the house gets more sleep.

http://www.attachmentparenting.org/cosleepwork.shtml

http://www.nd.edu/%7Ejmckenn1/lab/faq.html

If you aren't on drugs, drunk or have a sleep disorder, you aren't going to roll over onto your baby. How often do you fall out of bed? You DON'T because you have a sense of where the edge of the bed is at. Same goes for where baby is at in the bed.

Answer 7

well firstly because you could roll onto the baby and squash it, or the covers could go over the baby's head and smother it. Secondly, babies are really clever, and as soon as you do this the baby will know that if it cries it can sleep with you. You will end up with a toddler or an older child who won't sleep in their own bed. My sisters son only started going to bed in his own bed when he was 8. Before that he had to either sleep in bed with her and his dad or stay downstairs with them and fall asleep on the sofa with them and be carried up to bed once he fell asleep. It was anightmare gettng him into his own bed at age 8. My mums friend had a son who still slept in their bed when he was 11!! Thirdly, you and your husband/boyfriend need time to yourselves and you need proper rest. You take care of the baby all the time, and so at night you need to have a bit of your own space where you can have a comfortable restful sleep or have a cuddle, and also if the baby is in bed with you sex is out of the question which can cause problems in your relationship. Even though you have a baby you still need to show your partner that you have time for him too-dads do get jealous sometimes cos babies can take up all a womans time. So to summarise, its dangerous for the baby, its creating a rod for your own back cos you wont be able to break the habit easily, and it'll put pressure on your relationship.

Answer 8

because thye don't understand that somtimes you fall asleep while nursing in the middle of the night and don't want to drop the newborn (self experience). and also if you don't break them of it at 3-4 months its gonna be hell trying to get them in their own bed (it took about a month to get my 2 year old to sleep in his bed on his own). I've never had experience of rolling on the baby or anything, i think its just natural instinct even when you're sleeping not to.

Answer 9

Because its a cad habit to get into...and harm can come to the baby. You hear about people rolling over and smothering their babies. Then you start sleeping with baby, and soon that child is 2 years old and those same parents are complaining that they can't get their child in their own beds...they made their own problems.

Answer 10

All 3 of my children have slept in bed with us till they were one. They had no trouble going to their own bed or own room. I love knowing that I got to be that close to them for so long. I think people should do what works for them and not worry about what other people think. They are your children.