“Co-sleeping”: children are allowed to sleep with them – experts are in favor of it
Created: 08/25/2022, 08:00
By: Jasmine Farah
Co-sleeping is the latest craze in parenting.
The baby's bond with its parents should be strengthened.
Experts give the green light.
The first few months with a newborn are magical for new parents, but they can also be exhausting.
Especially if it's the first child.
Then you're still unsure, you have to find a routine first.
You're worried about doing something wrong, you're constantly questioning yourself. At the same time, mums and dads want to develop a close bond with their child right from the start.
Lack of sleep is also a problem for many.
If the little one doesn't want to sleep at all, some take it with them to the family bed.
After all, it can be wonderfully breastfed there and then fall asleep together.
"Co-Sleeping": Children are allowed to sleep with them - experts welcome that
"Co-sleeping" is the name of the latest trend that has been dominating the master bedroom for a few years.
Some celebrate it and swear by it, while others believe it could harm the child's later development.
Some parents fear that this will prevent their child from learning to sleep alone and cope later in life.
However, with "co-sleeping" it doesn't matter whether the child sleeps in the parents' bed.
It is already enough that it lingers in the same room.
And some experts even welcome it.
Co-sleeping is a way for parents and children to bond with their child.
©Oscar Carrascosa Martinez/Imago
According to this, new scientific studies are said to have shown that children feel safer in their parents' bed and can therefore sleep better.
This is due to evolution, after all babies are at the mercy of dangers and predators, both when they are sleeping and when they are sleeping.
That is why the offspring slept with our ancestors, the hunters and gatherers, close to their parents.
“Co-sleeping”: Children are allowed to sleep with you – good for development
The mere fact that their attachment system activates when they get tired suggests that they often seek their mother's closeness.
According to this, it is a survival mechanism for babies to ensure they receive protection, breast milk and body heat.
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But mothers also have the natural instinct to wake up briefly at night to see if their baby is okay.
Again, this is easier if the child is safe and secure right next to you.
As a result, the mothers also fall asleep more calmly and fall asleep more quickly.
At the same time, the fathers are not woken up when the mothers have to leave the room to breastfeed.
"The whole family gets more sleep," confirms Sarah Ockwell-Smith, children's sleep expert and author to
FOCUS Online.
"And it's a wonderful way to bond with one another."
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"Co-Sleeping": Children are allowed to sleep with them - the bond with their mother is strengthened
In addition, so it is easier to breastfeed the baby frequently, which is natural.
Our female ancestors also had the most time for this at night.
“Prolactin is also much higher at night than during the day, and oxytocin flows better,” explains breastfeeding consultant Elisabeth Kurth on her website.
The latter is also known as the "cuddle hormone", which also strengthens the bond between mother and child.
In addition, frequent breastfeeding supports the immune system of the little one, which will also benefit him later.
Overall, it turns out that parents and children who practice co-sleeping are more relaxed and happier than is widely assumed.
The experts conclude that they will not become spoiled complainers who will not be able to stand on their own two feet later in life.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.