10 Benefits of Co-Sleeping with Your Baby

Parents have been sleeping with their babies for centuries, and in many cultures, co-sleeping is as natural as breathing.

The very thought of a baby tucked close at night conjures warmth, security, and closeness. Yet in recent decades, the practice has been questioned in Western countries, with some parents being told they mustn’t and others singing its praises. So what is the real truth about co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping, in a basic sense, is simply defined as parents and babies sleeping close enough that they are aware of each other and can easily respond to one another’s needs. That can be accomplished either by sleeping in the same bed or by using a bedside bassinet or co-sleeper that attaches to the parents’ bed.

When approached with forethought and care, co-sleeping can have significant physical, emotional, and developmental benefits for both babies and parents. Here are ten of the main reasons parents choose to co-sleep.

Benefits of Co-Sleeping with Your Baby

10. Easier Nighttime Feeding

Nighttime feeds are one of the clearest reasons parents sleep with their babies. A baby, especially in the early months of life, needs to nurse or bottle-feed numerous times each night.

With co-sleeping, the mother can simply roll over rather than fumble her way through the darkness to the other side of the room while still half-asleep. Nursing is easier, and the baby can be soothed back to sleep more quickly. This lessens disruption for both parent and baby and makes for less exhausting nights.

9. Promotes Longer, More Restful Sleep

A baby often sleeps more soundly when they can hear, smell, and feel their parents close by. The sound of breathing, a familiar scent, or a parent’s hand on their back can soothe and reassure a child.

Many co-sleeping parents report not only fewer night wakings but also quicker resettling after feeding. At the same time, the mother often finds she falls asleep more quickly without the full disruption of leaving the bed. Over time, this leads to better-rested parents and calmer babies.

8. Strengthens Bonding and Emotional Security

Nighttime is an especially important time for bonding. Feeling safe and cared for helps babies build trust and security, both of which are vital for emotional development.

When parents and babies co-sleep, it is easier to hold skin-to-skin, soothe with words, or offer a gentle touch throughout the night. This quiet closeness builds a sense of trust and deep attachment that forms the basis of a baby’s social and emotional development for years to come.

7. Supports Breastfeeding Success

A recent study revealed that mothers who co-sleep are more likely to breastfeed for longer and to be more exclusive in their breastfeeding than those who do not. The proximity of co-sleeping makes nighttime nursing easier, and the increased frequency of feeds helps to stimulate and maintain milk supply. This self-reinforcing cycle of supply and demand is far smoother when the baby is nearby, reducing the chances of early weaning. For mothers who want to breastfeed, co-sleeping can be a powerful ally.

6. Helps Regulate Baby’s Body Functions

Newborn babies still need to learn how to regulate their body temperature, breathing, and heart rate. Being next to a parent can help stabilize these functions.

Studies have shown that babies who sleep near their mothers tend to have steadier breathing and smoother heart rhythms. A parent’s body warmth also helps a baby maintain a comfortable temperature. In many ways, the parent serves as a living regulator for the newborn.

5. Reduces Stress for Both Parent and Baby

Sleep disruptions are stressful for everyone. Babies are more likely to feel distressed when left crying alone in another room, and their stress hormones can quickly rise.

Parents, too, may feel frustration and fatigue when they must fully wake to tend to their baby elsewhere. Co-sleeping allows both sides to be calmer. Parents can usually respond quickly and efficiently before full crying sets in, and babies are comforted with ease. Over time, nights feel gentler and less draining for the whole family.

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4. Encourages Safer Sleep Awareness

When done safely and deliberately, co-sleeping makes parents more aware of their baby’s needs through the night. Mothers, especially, often sleep in lighter stages when co-sleeping with their infants, staying subconsciously alert to movement and sound.

This awareness can be key in reducing risk, as parents can respond quickly to changes in a baby’s position or breathing. Of course, co-sleeping is not without its safety rules. Pillows and blankets must be kept away from the baby, no alcohol or sedatives should be involved, and the sleep surface must be firm.

3. Creates a Smoother Transition to Independent Sleep

Contrary to the common fear that co-sleeping “spoils” children or leaves them unable to sleep on their own, children who have co-slept from birth often transition to their own beds smoothly, with less nighttime fear or anxiety.

Having experienced the comfort and security of their parents’ presence early in life, these children usually struggle with fewer nighttime terrors as they grow. Rather than forcing separation before a child is developmentally ready, co-sleeping allows them to build confidence at a natural pace.

2. Brings Comfort During Illness or Growth Spurts

Babies often go through phases when they need extra comfort and reassurance. Teething, growth spurts, and illness can all make a baby more fussy and restless.

When parents and babies co-sleep, it is easier to notice subtle changes, whether the child is fighting a fever or breathing less steadily. Parents can soothe and reassure instantly without fully waking or moving around the house. This brings comfort to the baby and peace of mind to the parent.

1. Deepens the Parenting Experience

One of the less often mentioned reasons for co-sleeping is the positive impact it has on the parent’s own experience. The long nights of infancy are fleeting, and many parents report a deep joy in sharing them.

Small sighs, tiny fingers curling in sleep, and the gentle presence of a baby nearby become memories cherished long after the moment has passed. Co-sleeping allows parents to enter a rhythm of care that feels less transactional and more shared, which deepens the journey of early parenthood.

Safety and Practical Considerations

Safety and practicality come with any sleeping arrangement. While there are many benefits to co-sleeping, families who are concerned may choose a bedside sleeper or bassinet that attaches to the parents’ bed, allowing for closeness without sharing the same surface. For those who choose bed-sharing, strict safety measures are key. These often include:

Babies sleeping on their backs
Parents using a firm mattress without pillows, heavy blankets, or stuffed animals
Keeping the baby away from gaps in the bed or sides where they could become trapped
Ensuring parents are not under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications that impair awareness
Avoiding overheating with too many layers of clothing or blankets

Taken together, these precautions can make co-sleeping both safe and rewarding.

In Conclusion

Parenting is never a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and for some families, co-sleeping will not be the right choice.

But for many others, co-sleeping can offer far-reaching benefits, from physical health to emotional bonding to everyday convenience. It can transform nighttime parenting from a struggle with exhaustion into a gentler, more connected process.

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