why should babies sleep alone in their cribs at night?

Question

the act of seperating children from their parents at night and expecting them to stay sleeping makes little sence...why is it so many parents force this on their children while they themselves don't like sleeping alone? do you think the unnatural sleeping arangments we force on our infants may be a contributing factor in the USs alarming rate of SIDS?

as for the act of smothering a child at night...this is rare and in the cases it has happened it is mostly cause by drug and alcohol abuse....the same mental awareness that prevents us from rolling out of our beds at night prevent us form smothering our children

Answer 1

apparently, a seed not put out in the freezing winter will become a plant that dies in a breeze.

a helpless infant, designed by evolution to need to sleep with its mother, should sleep alone instead because when it is a teenager, ... how does that go again?

Really, can you imagine a 15 year old wanting to sleep with their parents? Hysterical.

Answer 2

I think to each their own. I don't believe that an infant should be forced into doing anything independent they are not ready for (ie by letting them "cry it out"). My daughter is 8 mos. and sometimes she sleeps in her crib all night, other nights she wakes up and she sleeps in bed with us. As long as everyone is getting enough rest and the conditions are safe all that matters is what is best for the whole family. I think it is important to have your baby learn to get to sleep by him/her self other than being rocked or nursed, however, if that's what the parent feels comfortable doing that is what is most important.

Answer 3

SIDS is different than rolling over onto your baby. That would cause suffocation - NOT SIDS. There are ways to safely co-sleep.

I don't think sleeping in a crib *causes* SIDS. Nobody really understands it yet. There is recent research indicating that it may be a brain abnormality, something that happens in utero and not having anything to do with sleeping arrangements.

To each family, their own. I've done both.

Answer 4

I don't think it has much to do w/the rate of SIDS. In fact I read an article that said they've found that most babies who die of SIDS are lacking a chemical that allows you to awaken yourself.

As for me I have 2 kids. My daughter is 4yr and my son is almost 8. My daughter still sleeps in the bed w/me just as she did when she was a baby. I never had a problem w/rolling on her. The thing to watch out for is heavy blankets. You don't want them to get wrapped up in them. My son is a little different situation. I don't want my daughter rolling on him so I USUALLY put him in his own bed, but if he wakes up and needs to be held I will put him in bed with me, and just hold him so he doesn't get rolled on. I have to get up early to go to work so I don't hassle w/trying to get him back to sleep so I can put him down.

Each person/family knows what their comfortable with and should be educated enough to know the risk factors. Co sleeping works for my family and may not for others. It's an individual choice and shouldn't be scrutinized by others who don't know the family's situation just because it's not what THEY believe is right.

Answer 5

If he went from a basinette to crib attempt rolling some towels next to him so the area does not look so massive for him. pass some thing familar from the place he replaced into yo the crib. Will he sleep contained in the crib for the time of the day?? in line with risk make the transition slower. Or he would desire to be close to you in one day so in line with risk sleep contained in the room with the crib and slowly withdraw I desire you the ultimate of success. Its rather no longer basic whilst they do this

Answer 6

Co sleeping isn't as dangerous as everyone makes it sound. A great article about the research done is on Dr. Greene's site at http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=953

It seems that, like many things, encouraging babies to sleep only in their cribs may be driven more by making money and less by the research.

Answer 7

I agree partially. I don't see a problem with wanting your child to sleep in a crib. My child will probably stay in his crib after he is born, but I see no problem with parents wanting their child in their bed. I definately don't think a parent is going to suffocate a baby. It's a natural instinct not to roll on your child, just like not rolling off the bed. I don't think there is anything wrong with either choice. It is a personal choice that parents have to make. Personally, at night I feel it's a time for me and my husband to cuddle. The baby will get plenty of attention during the day.

Answer 8

actually, the greatest number of SIDS cases came from children who were sleeping with someone else. There is a reason children are placed in a bassinet by the bed for the first few months until the child gets used to be separated from the parent. There are also side of the bed beds that attach to parental beds and allow children to sleep "with" the parent with out the danger of being smothered.

Answer 9

I slept my babies separate at night for my comfort and theirs. I got a better sleep and so did they. This also encourages independence, something that is very important in western culture.

Also, the last SIDS research I’ve heard states that the best sleeping arrangement for a baby is to be in the same room as the parent and in their own bed/crib and NOT co-sleeping.

And if it is so good, why are there so many rules with co-sleeping? It’s almost more trouble than it’s worth. In a crib, the rule is to sleep them on their backs, in bed with a parent, they need to stay on their backs, either parent can’t have been drinking, smoking or doing any drugs. Have to be careful of the amount coverings as baby will be more likely to overheat…

And of course, there’s always avoiding having to teach them to sleep in their own bed at a later date when it’s harder & meaner. If they’re used to sleeping in their own bed by themselves, then there’s no problem, but waiting until a child is 2 or so when they start to have fears & things and then kicking them out of your bed that’s mean (to me anyways). Or do you just keep sharing a bed until they decide they want to be in their own. What if they don’t want to be on their own until they get married? That may be stretching it, but as co-sleeping gets more & more popular, I hear more stories about older children sleeping with their parents.

The oldest child that I have personally known was still co-sleeping WITH HER FATHER at 12. When his girlfriend stayed over, his girlfriend had to stay on the floor because the daughter wouldn’t go to sleep without him.

Anyways, I’ve carried on long enough.

Answer 10

It's makes allot of sense to let your baby sleep in their own bed at night. The reason they won't sleep in their own bed at night is because parents get them used to sleeping with them. There are certainly some precautions that r necessary like never lay them on their belly or nothing in the bed but the baby and the blanket they using to cover with. There r also specially made pillow supports u can buy that lay your baby on their side so they can't roll over to their belly and smother. Even if u keep them in the bed right beside your bed it's better than sleeping with them for the sake of independence. Your gonna be back on here in about a year begging for help on how to get your child to sleep in their own bed. It all comes down to what your baby is used to, if u get them used to sleeping with u then they r gonna cry for it, if u get them used to sleeping by themselves then they will whine for their own bed. Depends on your parenting style. There is nothing unnatural about your kids sleeping in their own beds.