Co-sleeping - Advantages, disadvantages, and good advice

Co-sleeping simply means that the child sleeps in the same bed as their parents. It is a choice many families make to foster closeness and security, but it can also raise questions about safety, sleep, and well-being. As with many things, there are differing opinions and both advantages and disadvantages to co-sleeping. We will explore these in more detail here.

Advantages of co-sleeping

• Strengthens attachment: Co-sleeping can promote a sense of security and safety in the child.

• Easier breastfeeding: Parents can respond quickly to the baby's needs without having to get up, which can lead to better sleep for both the child and parents.

• Closeness and comfort: It allows for physical contact, which can be soothing for the child and reduce restlessness. Babies cannot regulate their emotions and nervous system, so being close to an adult provides security.

Read: Velcro Baby or Cry-It-Out

Challenges and safety

Co-sleeping requires careful consideration, especially in the first few months when infants are at the highest risk of SIDS.

Co-sleeping safety advice:

• Use a firm mattress, not a sofa or chair.

• The child should lie on their own duvet without loose blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals.

• The child should be placed at the side of the bed, not between the parents.

• No older siblings or pets in the bed.

• Parents should not be under the influence of alcohol or medication that dulls the senses.

• A bed of at least 140 cm is recommended if both parents and the child co-sleep.

Co-sleeping vs. own bed

The Danish Health Authority recommends that infants sleep in their own bed in the same room as their parents, especially for the first 3–6 months. This reduces the risk of SIDS.

Advice for own bed:

• Use a cot or bedside crib.

• Ensure a firm mattress and correct spacing between bars.

• Place the child on their back with their feet at the foot of the bed.

• No loose objects or pillows in the bed.

When to stop co-sleeping?

There are no fixed age limits for when a child should stop sleeping with their parents. Co-sleeping often has a bad reputation, but research shows that it does not, in itself, have negative consequences for the child's development or behavior.

It can be helpful to consider why the child wants to co-sleep: some children are more sensitive, anxious, or have sleep disturbances, while others simply enjoy closeness.

Many families co-sleep because it works well and creates security. Co-sleeping is a learned behavior, and both parents and children can stop when it suits them. A gradual transition to their own bed can happen through bedside cribs, increasing the distance between child and parents, or through supportive routines that help the child feel secure alone.

The most important thing is that the transition happens at a pace that suits the child's needs and the family's routines, so that both security and sleep quality are maintained.

Read more about: Sleepbag Bumper

How to find the right solution

• Try different options: own bed, bedside crib, or co-sleeping, and see what works best.

• Prioritize both the baby's security and the parents' sleep.

• Choose solutions that suit your family's needs and routines.

Conclusion

Co-sleeping can be a positive experience for both child and parents when safety and well-being are prioritized. Both co-sleeping and sleeping in their own bed can provide security, closeness, and good sleep when practiced correctly.

Sources:

• Mødrehjælpen: A good start – Co-sleeping or own bed

• Babyinstituttet: Co-sleeping/sleeping with baby

• Videnskab.dk: Co-sleeping: Can the child get 'too old' to sleep with parents?

• Sundhedsstyrelsen: Healthy Children (2019)