What Kind of Co-sleeper Are You?
Mar 12, 2024
In my work with families, I generally see 3 types of co-sleepers:
Accidental - Also called reactive co-sleeping, accidental co-sleeping happens when you don’t mean to sleep in the same bed as your baby but you are overtired and are desperate to stop your baby’s crying. Many new parents have at some point – even temporarily, brought their baby into bed with them out of sheer exhaustion.
Intentional - Intentional co-sleeping is when the family decides they want to sleep in the same bed as their baby and create a safe sleep environment. These committed co-sleepers may choose to bedshare or have a co-sleeper that attaches to the bed.
Room sharing- Room sharing, different than bed sharing, is the option recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The baby has a separate sleep surface or bassinet next to the parent’s bed.
My priority is always ensuring the family has a safe sleep space before we begin working towards their sleep goals. Through my training and research, I’ve learned the unfortunate reality of sleep deprivation and lack of support for new parents.
Here are some co-sleeping numbers that may surprise you:
In 2015, a CDC study found that 60% of mothers reported bed sharing with their infant, with 39% of those reporting the use of soft bedding. The National Child Mortality Database analyzed data from 2019-2021 and found a strong link between SIDS in infants under 1 year and sleeping arrangements with more than half of the deaths occurring in a shared sleeping environment.
Looking back, I unintentionally brought my baby into bed with me on some occasions. The combination of exhaustion, crying, and not knowing what to do brought me to a level of desperation that I could not escape – even knowing the safety risks.
IDEA
Co-sleeping can be beneficial for the baby when it is a deliberate choice with intention and planning.
Unfortunately, so many new parents are armed with more information on what diaper cream to use and the hottest new stroller rather than the basics of healthy sleep practices.
My hope is to educate and help new parents make informed decisions that support their values and goals.
RESOURCE
If you want to co-sleep, check out these bassinets and co-sleepers from Arm’s Reach®. They offer a safe way to sleep next to your baby so your family can get the benefits of co-sleeping using safe sleep practices.
TIP
Even if you choose to co-sleep, your baby will still need to learn the skill of putting themselves to sleep. If you find yourself needing to lay next to your child for them to fall asleep, that is considered a sleep crutch. Reach out to a sleep coach if you’re not sure what your next step should be.