Advantages of co-sleeping

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There are lots of advantages to co-sleeping and I have to admit I'm a huge proponent of it. When you think about babies as evolutionary beings, you have to remember that for the bulk of our time on the planet, to not be sleeping with your parent meant to be in a perilous situation. Well yes, now today we have the safety of our homes and nurseries; the human infant's brain has not caught up with the modern amenities of the bassinet. So it's important to remember what it is that your baby is biologically wired to need. They need to be close to you during the night, to feel a sense of safety. The advantages of co-clepping can really be tremendous. First, they really promote a breastfeeding relationship, which I think most mothers would like to engage in. Even if you are not breastfeeding your child, it can help to establish a greater sense of communication between the two of you. You get more familiar with one another's body movements, your sense, different ways that you communicate. It can also mean better sleep for everyone, which is a huge, huge plus. Because your baby never really has to wake up fully, crying in order to get your attention. She stirs, you sense her, you immediately respond to her needs. That means she goes back to sleep easier, you go back to sleep easier. Much less stress for everyone. It's important, however, if you are going to co-sleep, to do it safely. One of the books that I strong recommend is James McKenna's "How to Sleep with Your Baby." He can really give you some tips as to understanding whether or not co-sleeping is right for you and your family, and what are different ways to go about it. Whether that means sleeping in the same room, using a co-sleeper, bed sharing, the family bed, etc.

Video Categories: ALL PARENTS, Parenting, Bonding and Communication, BABY, Babies and Sleep, Co-Sleeping, TODDLER, Toddlers and Sleep, Co-Sleeping

Aimee Wheeler, PsyD, explains the many ways co-sleeping can benefit new babies, mothers, and families as a whole. Watch Wheeler discuss the research-based theories on how co-sleeping can make your baby feel safe, help mothers breastfeed, and help the whole family get longer, better periods of sleep.

Transcript

Expert Bio

Aimee Wheeler, PsyD

Therapist

When her son was born, Aimee found herself in uncharted waters. She knew she wanted to be a different type of parent than her parents had been. After years of self-exploration, she felt she had healed a lot of her childhood emotional wounds and that she could be a good mother but she didn't really know how to parent differently. She went to Mommy and Me classes, breastfeeding groups, you name it, searching to fill a void she initially could not identify. They were all helpful but not what she felt she was longing for. She realized she was looking for a safe place to really talk about the challenges she was facing every day. Unfortunately, it seemed that none of the forums she found as a new mother were able to provide that. She vowed then to create such a place for parents, and the idea for Parenting Discovery Center was born.

Her educational background in psychology had nurtured her tremendous curiosity about the impact and importance of infant attachment. Her research in this area had equipped her with a conscious sieve to help evaluate the overwhelming amount of parenting advice available. What she found was that at a time of total vulnerability, parents are often taught parenting techniques that cause them to unwittingly undermine this important and essential bond.

The Center provides a safe and supportive environment for exploring the emotions and challenges faced by new parents. They are also here to help peoople understand the importance of attachment and help parents build a conscious bond with their baby based upon their individual family's values and lifestyle.

Parenting expert on: Bonding and Communication, Co-Sleeping, Co-Sleeping, Attachment Parenting

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