Is Co-sleeping Good or Bad For Babies?
Co-sleeping (sharing a bed) is common in many cultures. There is no hard and fast evidence to suggest an increased risk of suffocation of the child. It is generally recommended that the infant be put to sleep in a separate room from the caregiver to avoid affecting the sleep-wake cycle of the adult. Many parents feel they are thereby becoming inattentive to their child’s needs. But there is some evidence to suggest that they tend to get up even more often if they hear the child crying. There is some evidence to suggest that children who later develop sleep problems experience co-sleeping in their infancy. In adults, sleeping apart has been shown to lead to a more refreshing night’s sleep.
