When our Little Boss made her grand entrance into the world, we braced ourselves for the inevitable nighttime shuffle. The unwritten rule seemed clear—one of us would be bidding goodbye to the luxury of a full night's sleep, at least for the foreseeable future. Amidst the whirlwind of advice from seasoned friends and family advocating for co-sleeping or bed sharing, we found ourselves at a crossroads. The reality? We were two active sleepers, making the idea of sharing a bed with our newborn a less-than-ideal scenario.
But what is bed-sharing?
Bed-sharing, as the term suggests, involves your Little Boss sleeping in your bed. It's a comforting option for parents who find it challenging to be away from their newborns, particularly beneficial for breastfeeding mothers.
However, Omma has heard about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a term used to describe the sudden death of a baby younger than a year old that does not have a known cause, even after a full investigation. And due to this, Omma only allowed one adult to be sleeping with the Little Boss at all times until she was about 3 months old. After that, she only slept in her cot in her own room alone unless we were on a holiday or when she was feeling unwell.
What are the pros & cons of bed-sharing then?
If you're on the exclusive breastfeeding journey, having your Little Boss close by can make those initial weeks a breeze. The constant need for feeding becomes manageable when your baby is right by your side. Plus, the reassurance of your presence creates a sense of security and comfort, paving the way for better sleep—for both you and your little one!
We vividly recall the nights when our Little Boss started sleeping alone. It was quite a task to shuffle to another room whenever she needed comfort. Bed-sharing made a remarkable difference; it allowed us to swiftly respond to her needs and ensure everything was okay.
Despite these benefits, there are trade-offs. Time for yourself might become scarce, especially when your baby needs your presence to drift off to sleep. Intimacy with your spouse could also be affected. But hey, if expanding your family isn't in the cards right now, consider it an unintentional birth control method! (Laughs)
If the concept of bed-sharing feels daunting, there's a practical alternative to consider: co-sleeping. This arrangement involves your Little Boss sleeping in a bassinet or crib adjacent to your bed or attached to it.
The benefits and drawbacks of co-sleeping mirror those of bed-sharing. However, one notable distinction is the reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) associated with co-sleeping. Your Little Boss rests in their crib or bassinet, which lowers the risk compared to direct bed-sharing.
Speaking from our own experience, we encouraged our Little Boss to start sleeping independently at 3 months old. At 2 years old now, she occasionally calls for one of us to share the bed if she wakes up in the night. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. It's about finding what suits your family's dynamics and needs best. If bed-sharing is your current solution, embrace it. Just keep in mind that someday, those tiny hands won't accidentally wake you at 2 AM, and you might find yourself nostalgic for those moments.