The feeling of holding your newborn in your arms and feeling their soft breaths against your body is truly divine. As a new parent, you wish to cherish every living moment with your little one, so the thought of putting them to sleep in a separate room away from you can be difficult.
You also want to create the perfect sleeping environment for your little one’s time in dreamland, from choosing the best swaddles and sleep sacks to providing them warmth, safety and comfort. Luckily, the practice of co-sleeping offers a host of benefits for both baby and parent. And the best part, of course, is the extra time you get to spend with your little one by your side!
What is Co-sleeping?
Co-sleeping is the practice of babies or young children sleeping in close proximity to their parent(s), either on the same bed or nearby in the same room, as opposed to in a separate room.
Also Read | The Ultimate Go-To Baby Essentials List
Benefits of Co-sleeping
Co-sleeping offers numerous benefits that can positively impact both the baby and the parents. From fostering a deeper bond and improving sleep quality to boosting physical, mental and emotional development and growth, here are 8 ways babies benefit from co-sleeping.
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Better Sleep Quality
Co-sleeping is a common practice in nature; most mammals sleep with their babies, especially while breastfeeding. Co-sleeping improves the quality of sleep for both babies and parents. Being close to their caregivers helps children feel safe and protected, as a result of which they cry less and wake less often. In case they do wake up, they are comforted by the parent’s touch and scent and thus, they tend to settle back to sleep on their own. And when your baby enjoys restful and interrupted sleep, so can you!
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Enriched Bonding
Sharing a sleeping space builds a strong emotional connection between babies and their parents. Co-sleeping helps release oxytocin, also known as the ‘love’ hormone or the ‘feel good’ hormone, that helps with bonding and attachment. Being within sensory range of their babies allows parents to be more in tune with their baby’s needs and respond to them in a timely manner, making the baby feel protected and secure always. This nurturing environment enhances parental bonding which develops into a deeper, trusting relationship as the child grows.
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Easier Nighttime Feeding
The only tasks on your little one’s to-do list during the first few months are eating and sleeping. Frequent nighttime feeding sessions become much more convenient when your baby is closeby and you have quicker access. It saves you the hassle of needing to fully wake up and go to another room. In fact, sharing a bed allows mothers to breastfeed comfortably without even getting out of bed, making the feeding experience smoother and helping both baby and mom to drift back to sleep faster. Don't forget to keep Nintara Baby’s 100% Organic Burp Cloths handy to make those midnight feeding sessions even more manageable.
Also Read | How to Use a Feeding Pillow: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Decreased Risk of SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a healthy baby under one year old, mostly during sleep. When babies sleep close to their parents, their breathing becomes more regulated. This makes it less likely for them to enter deep sleep cycles. Lighter sleep cycles allow them to rouse easily in case they experience any discomfort or danger such as changes in temperature or difficulty breathing, decreasing the risk of SIDS. Mothers too can quickly check on their babies if something seems amiss.
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Greater Emotional Security and Independence
Even after their arrival into this beautiful world, newborns still long for the warmth and security of the womb, their first home for nine long months. Co-sleeping eases the transition into their new home. Listening to the gentle beating of your heart and feeling the warmth of your body next to them makes them feel emotionally secure. This sense of safety and security builds trust and attachment, which in the future translates to independence.
Nintara Baby’s Swaddle Wraps are designed to recreate the cozy, cocoon-like embrace of the womb, making bedtime a soothing, snug experience for your little one.
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Improved Development and Growth
When babies are in the close presence of a caregiver, they feel calm and less stressed, which contributes to healthy brain development and in turn, better cognitive abilities. Co-sleeping also helps stabilize a baby’s breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, and body temperature, ensuring overall physiological well-being.
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Quick Comfort During Crises
Your infant may be tiny, but don’t be fooled by their size, because they come with a never-ending list of needs! In the early days, your little one will require you to be at their beck and call even during the wee hours after bedtime. As a parent, your natural protective instincts allow you to sense any discomfort or unease your baby may feel, and co-sleeping ensures that you are always close enough to tend to their every care and need, especially during times of teething, illness and restless nights.
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Happy Parents
Of course, there's no better feeling than gazing at your tiny tot peacefully lost in dreamland beside you. When you know there is going to be less night-time crying, fewer wake-ups, and better sleep, along with the reassurance and mental peace of knowing that your baby is close to you, you can feel more rested, content and mentally and emotionally secure. And ofcourse, you get to experience the joy of creating more precious memories with your little one!
Also Read | The 5 Biggest Benefits of Swaddling Your Newborn
Co-sleeping can offer many benefits for both babies and parents. At the same, it's important to make sure you’re being careful and prioritizing your baby’s safety.
It's the special moments of connection that make the journey of parenthood a true delight. Nintara Baby’s range of carefully curated baby products, from our lightweight sleep sacks to cozy swaddles, are crafted to create the most peaceful and comforting sleeping environment for your baby, helping you to nurture a healthy parent-child connection.
