How to wean a child to sleep with their parents and when it should be done?

Now many parents practice sleeping together with the baby, especially in the first months of life. This method of packing not only makes it easier for mom to feed at night, but also has other advantages. Does a baby’s sleep next to parents have shortcomings and how easy is it to wean the child from the habit of sleeping in the parent’s bed?

• The baby falls asleep faster and sleeps more calmly, hearing mom's heartbeat and feeling the warmth of the parents. In such an environment, he feels safe and protected.
• The little one does not have to part with her parents for the period of sleep, which is stressful for many children.
• The breathing of the newborn, as well as his heartbeat, become more rhythmic next to the parents. In addition, exhaled carbon dioxide by adults, getting into the respiratory tract of the crumbs, stimulate the respiratory center of the baby. These factors reduce the risk of sudden death syndrome.
• Next to mom and dad, the baby is easier to endure feeling unwell.
• The child does not overheat near the parents, because some of its heat passes to the cool bodies of adults.
• The baby gets more tactile contact with mom and dad, which is important for the full development of his nervous system.

• The child is always supervised, because the parents hear and see the baby.
• Crumbs, who are hungry, it is much easier to calm by latching to the breast, if the mother lies nearby. Mom does not need to get up and interrupt sleep, which helps her better to rest at night. In addition, sucking at night is important for sufficient lactation.
• A joint dream will help out in the case when parents spend little time with the baby during the day, for example, if the mother starts working and leaves the place for a long time.
• Thanks to sleeping with the baby, the mother studies the needs of the child well and can respond to them quickly.
• Sleeping baby in parental bed helps mom cope with postpartum depression, anxiety and fears.

Parents can not get enough sleep if they are afraid of disturbing the baby’s sleep or are limited in place for sleeping. A young mother may interfere with falling asleep next to the tiny fear that she is able to crush the baby in her sleep. In fact, if the mother’s brain is not affected by alcohol, a sleeping pill or a drug, she will be sensitive to the movements of the baby in her sleep. But from the side of the pope there is such a danger, therefore, it is better to choose a place near the wall for laying the baby.

There is an opinion that babies sleeping with their parents are more dependent on them. And indeed, such children have a stronger attachment to their parents, but with age, their needs are normalized. In addition, opponents of sleeping together are sure that it is simply not hygienic to sleep at night in the parent’s bed. However, this problem is easily solved if you lay a diaper on the bed for a baby, which you can often wash.

The child is not recommended to be placed in the parent's bed in the case of:

• Smoking or drinking by one of the parents;
• Very tired parents.

The optimum age to transfer a baby who is accustomed to sleeping on the parent's bed, in his own bed, is considered 2-3 years. After three years, the child already feels like a separate person and begins to need a personal space. In addition, by this age many infant fears pass away.

To make the transition to your bed easier for the child, parents can recommend the following:

• Make sure that the child’s baby is safe and there are no frightening items in the room.
• Choose the baby you like with the child bed, a beautiful pillow and blanket, as well as bed linen.
• At daytime sleep, place your baby in your own bed.
• Let the crumb choose a favorite toy with which he wants to sleep.
• Develop a certain bedtime ritual, for example, sing a lullaby to your baby or read a fairy tale.
• If the child is scared in the dark, you can not close the door to his room and leave the night light on.
• First put the baby’s bed to the parent’s bed and gradually move it further away to the opposite wall, then move it to another room.
• A child over 3 years old can have a fun holiday of going to bed in her bed.
• Talk to your baby and tell him that he is old enough to sleep in his own bed.
• Be prepared that the first time the toddler will often resort to your bed.

For relocation to your bed is best to choose the period when the pipsqueak is calm. It is unacceptable to force a child to start sleeping separately if he is sick or is undergoing serious changes (went to kindergarten, moved to a new apartment, became an older brother).

Note that parents should from the very beginning find out their attitude to joint sleep. If one spouse welcomes the child’s visits to his bed, and the second is against them, adults need to agree to avoid confusing the child. Be consistent and show patience, and soon your child will get used to sleeping in his own bed.