co-sleeping di affiancamento

Co Sleeping: To Sleep or Not to Sleep with Your Baby?

Co-Sleeping: To Sleep or Not to Sleep with Your Baby?

What is co-sleeping? Sleeping with your newborn: benefits Promoting breastfeeding: Stabilizing heart and respiratory rhythms: Strengthening the parent-infant bond: Reducing anxiety in children: Autonomy Reducing SIDS risk Are there risks in co-sleeping? Co-sleeping and bed sharing are not synonymous How to co-sleep safely Up to what age? Conclusions

“Don't sleep with your baby because you'll spoil him later”, “if you sleep with him next to you he'll wake up less often”. How many times have mothers and fathers heard these kinds of things about co-sleeping with their little one, but what is the right thing to do? Is it better to sleep with your own child or not?

I'll answer you in this article!

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping means sleeping next to your baby and can be of different types:

  • Separate co-sleeping : in this modality, the baby has his or her own bed or crib in the same room as the parents, but the beds are separate. Therefore, parents can intervene as soon as the baby wakes up or cries without being in close proximity to the baby.
  • Direct Co-sleeping : In this case, the baby actually shares the same bed with one or both parents. Bed-sharing can allow for constant physical contact during sleep, which promotes breastfeeding and emotional bonding, but it comes with several safety risks.
  • Co-sleeping by side : when next-to-me cribs or cots attached to the parents' bed are used, this type of co-sleeping is being practiced. It has the same advantages as direct co-sleeping, but allows the baby to sleep in a separate and therefore safer space.
  • Temporary co-sleeping : it is temporary because it is done only at certain times (breastfeeding, falling asleep or to calm the baby) and then the baby is taken to his or her own bed. It is widely used when trying to get the baby used to sleeping in his or her own bed.

Sleeping with your newborn: advantages

Although in the East co-sleeping is a completely normal practice, here in the West it is still often considered wrong. This is because we try to make the little one as independent as possible in the shortest time, following the fast and pressing rhythms of daily life.


Co-sleeping does not mean spoiling the child , but satisfying his physiological need for closeness to his mother. In fact, in nature, babies are totally dependent on their mother for survival instinct. Puppies have no way to protect themselves, they do not know everything that surrounds them; therefore, they seek the support and closeness of their parents to feel safe even and especially in sleep.


Here are the main benefits , also recognized by science:

co-sleeping with mom

Breastfeeding Promotion:

A study published in the journal "Pediatrics" has shown that co-sleeping can promote breastfeeding. In fact, the physical closeness between mother and baby during sleep facilitates breastfeeding on demand and the production of oxytocin . In addition, the mother is able to sleep more.

Stabilization of cardiac and respiratory rhythms:

According to a study conducted by Ball and Hooker ("Parent-infant bed-sharing behavior: effects of feeding type, and presence of father"), co-sleeping can help stabilize the newborn's heart rate and breathing rate , since the presence of the parents can positively influence these parameters.

Strengthening the parent-child bond:

Some studies have highlighted how co-sleeping can help strengthen the emotional bond between parents and children thanks to constant closeness.

Reducing Anxiety in Children:

Especially around the 9th month, the child experiences separation anxiety, one of the reasons for the regression of sleep in this period. The closeness to the parents helps the child to feel less of this anxiety and sleep better and with fewer awakenings.

Autonomy

It has been noted that the more the child's need for dependence is welcomed and supported, the faster the child will achieve autonomy in sleep. However, it is important to clarify that separation anxiety is physiological up to 3 years of age. In fact, children usually start sleeping alone at night around 3-5 years of age.

SIDS Risk Reduction

Co-sleeping has been found to reduce the risk of SIDS if done correctly because the closeness to the parents would cause the baby to remain in a light sleep phase for longer. In fact, SIDS seems to occur in the baby's deep sleep phase.

Are there risks in co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping in the form of bad sharing has the following potential risks :

  • Suffocation : This can happen either if the baby is covered by duvets and sheets, or if the parent accidentally places themselves on top of the baby. Unfortunately, this is not such a rare occurrence and becomes much more likely if the parents are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Falls from bed : This risk can be eliminated by ensuring suitable bed rails are used;
  • SIDS : Bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS by 5 times if not done safely;
  • Sleep disturbance : when you become a mother you also acquire a greater sensitivity to sounds and movements especially during sleep. This can lead the mother to wake up much more often every time the baby makes a noise or moves;
  • Lack of privacy for parents : the birth of a baby brings new beautiful emotions for parents, but also the need to find new balances. The relationship of the couple changes and privacy is not always so easy to find especially when practicing co-sleeping.

Back to blog