Is It Good For Children To Sleep With Their Mother?

Today we’re going to look at what research says about children sleeping with their mothers. The birth of a child raises as many doubts and questions as there are minutes in a day.

Every moment calls for a decision and new parents are constantly running into conflicting opinions about everything they do. However, many scientific studies can shed light on these situations and opinions.

In this article, we will explore the different perspectives on whether it is good for children to sleep with their mother. As we do that, it’s important to keep in mind that there are a wide variety of variables such as: 

• the age of a child.
• cultural factors.

• socio-economic factors.

Is it good for children to sleep with their mother?

Let’s talk about babies first

In the case of babies, co-sleeping at night promotes breastfeeding. Several studies largely agree on the best positions for babies when it comes to sleeping.

Parents should be aware of these attitudes to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, when it comes to where babies should sleep, opinions start to diverge.

In a number of cases, experts point to the risks of babies sleeping in the same bed with their mother. For example, if one of the parents smokes, it can harm the baby. There is also the risk of suffocation. To reduce this risk, babies can sleep in the same room as their parents, but not in the same bed.

What we want to point out is the great advantage that co-sleeping offers mothers when it comes to breastfeeding. That is, when babies sleep with their mothers, it favorably contributes to feeding at night.

Children

Most co-sleeping research focuses specifically on the first months or years of life. In later stages , sleep habits seem to have a lot to do with cultural and socio-economic factors.

According to the same data , there is no significant association between cognitive abilities and co-sleeping. Similarly, there is no evidence that sleeping with their mother affects the way a child behaves. The age reference in this study was 5 years.

Given these factors, researchers confirm that it is one thing for children to sleep with their mother due to limited space… However, it is quite another for mothers to freely choose to sleep with their children.

Thus, this difference causes a variation in results, as does the case of temporarily sleeping together with their mother because of, for example, a child’s sleeping problems.

So should children sleep with their mother?

There are many conflicting opinions about whether co-sleeping between children and parents is beneficial or harmful. Below we discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages that this habit can have.

Possible positive aspects

• Co-sleeping can promote a positive bond between mother and child.
• Families spend more time together than they could during the day.
• Co-sleeping can help regulate a child’s breathing.
• In some specific cases, co-sleeping can help solve a child’s sleeping problems.
• It can also improve a child’s self-esteem and ability to tolerate stress.

Possible negative aspects

• Co-sleeping can even contribute to sleeping problems. This is especially true if one of the parents suffers from insomnia or sleep disruption at night.
• It can negatively affect a child’s autonomy and social ability.

• In some cases , it increases parental anxiety and stress.

In any case, studies suggest that children over the age of 5 or 6 should not be allowed to sleep with their parents. However, this also depends on each mother and child and on each specific situation.

That said, the process of transitioning from a child to his or her own bed should at least be gradual. For example, parents can start by alternating days or by placing a bed for their child next to their own bed.

Tips to help children sleep better

First of all , experts warn against watching TV at night, just before going to sleep. This habit reduces the number of hours children rest. Children, on the other hand, should be offered other activities, such as reading a book or talking to family members.

Massage is another way to help calm overly excited or anxious children before going to bed. In addition, it is important that children eat balanced and complete meals for dinner.

We should avoid giving food that can alter or stimulate our children, making it difficult for them to rest. For example, you should not give sugar-rich products and chocolate around dinner time.

Conclusion about children who sleep with their mother

There are as many parenting habits as there are children and families. In this article, we can see that it is difficult to talk about parenting methods in general terms. Every decision parents make carries both benefits and risks.

It is difficult to classify every family and every person when it comes to nurturing, affection, patience and the like. Each child also has his or her own challenges, which parents learn to overcome through their own parenting experience.

So what do you think? Is it good for children to sleep with their mother? Science does not have unequivocal evidence and there are an infinite number of opinions on the subject.