There will come a time when your child no longer needs to be in bed with you or your partner. This article throws light on when is the best age to transition from co-sleeping and psychological effects of co-sleeping.
The exact age at which a child is ready to stop co-sleeping is different for every kid, and it can depend on their specific needs as well as their personality. Some kids are ready much earlier than others; some won’t want to stop co-sleeping until they’re almost finished secondary school. Every kid is unique, though, so the best way to know if your child is ready is by monitoring their habits and listening to what they have to say about them. Whether you’re preparing for parenthood or already have children of your own, learning about the ins and outs of co-sleeping can help you understand what’s coming down the road.
What Is Co-Sleeping?
Co-sleeping means parents bed sharing with baby or when a baby or child shares a bed with one or both parents. While the practice has become more common over the last decade or so, it’s not a new concept. Many cultures around the world have a rich history of bed sharing with baby, which is believed to strengthen parent-child bonds and offer significant health benefits for all involved.
Co-sleeping is one of the most natural and instinctive parenting practices, and also one of the most beneficial. It’s great for babies and children of all ages, whether they’re breastfed or bottle-fed, sick or healthy, or have special needs.
The benefits of co-sleeping
- Babies who co-sleep are less likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or have serious health complications.
- Babies who co-sleep are less likely to suffer from colic.
- Babies who co-sleep are less likely to develop allergies and asthma.
- Parents who co-sleep are less likely to get depressed.
- Co-sleeping strengthens parent-child bonds.
When is the best age to transition from co-sleeping?
There’s no specific age at which every kid is ready to stop co-sleeping. It’s all about your child’s specific needs and desires. Some kids are ready to stop co-sleeping as early as 6 months old; others aren’t ready until they’re almost a teenager. There’s no magic timeline. There’s no magic age. Every child is different. So the only way to know if your child is ready to stop co-sleeping is by monitoring their habits, listening to what they have to say about it, and gauging their reaction to suggestions to stop.
If you feel as though your child is ready to stop co-sleeping, you may want to wait a few days before approaching them about it. Kids are much more likely to respond positively when they’ve had time to think about it and consider the idea themselves without any outside pressure from you.
Popular with toddler moms
How to know if your child is ready to stop co-sleeping
- Observe your child’s sleeping habits.
- Listen to what your child has to say about co-sleeping.
- Gauge your child’s reaction to suggestions to stop co-sleeping.
- If your child is sleeping well and has no trouble falling and staying asleep, they may be ready to stop co-sleeping.
- If your child has no trouble falling asleep but has trouble staying asleep, they may be ready to stop co-sleeping.
- If your child has no health issues and shows no signs of being ready to stop co-sleeping, they may not be ready to stop co-sleeping.
- If your child expresses a desire to stop co-sleeping, they may be ready to stop co-sleeping.
3 Steps To Stop Co-Sleeping During Bedtime
- Be patient and wait for the right time.
- Wait for an appropriate opportunity to bring it up.
- Wait for your child to get comfortable with their new sleeping arrangement. – Be patient and wait for your child to get used to their new sleeping arrangement.
Subscribe To grab Free coloring Printables and free Planner
Psychological effects of co-sleeping
Co-sleeping is a common practice among parents of newborns and infants. It has been shown to have positive effects on the psychological well-being of the infant. These includes less crying, higher levels of trust and closeness, lower stress levels, improved emotional regulation, and better sleep.
However, there are also potential risks associated with co-sleeping. These includes potential for suffocation (if the infant’s head gets stuck between the bedding), SIDS risk, hypothermia (if the infant is too hot or too cold), and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Therefore, it is important to weigh the benefits of co-sleeping against its potential risks. If you are considering co-sleeping with your baby, it is best to start when they are newborn and continue until they can roll over on their own.
In addition to the above risks, researchers have also found that co-sleeping may hinder learning and development in young children. While there is no way to know if this was due to being in bed with an adult or being in bed with another baby, babies who practice self-soothing techniques are more likely to develop these skills than those who do not. It’s important to keep all of these factors in mind when making decisions about co-sleeping with your new family member!
Conclusion
Co-sleeping is a very personal parenting choice, and it’s important not to pass judgment on other parents who make different choices. Everyone has different needs and desires, and everyone has different ways of meeting those needs and desires. No one way is better than another; each is simply different.
It’s the first time ever I hear about co-sleeping. You really bring to me new info here in this post.
It was good to know about a new topic. I have actually never tried to know about the best age to transition from co sleep before
My daughter is going through this now with her 10-month-old. It’s really hard when they are used to being by your side!
Good information for parents especially new ones. This phase varies for every family
Thanks for this important information. Many parents are confused about co-sleeping.
Hhhhmmm…these are very important tips to think about. Co-sleeping is lovely but it has to have it’s limits, like you have said.
This is interesting and I’m not yet a parent but I can see these can help. Thank you for sharing!
My youngest son is 18 months now. I still nurse and sleep with him. But I already to started to dream about moving to my husband’s bed. Honestly, I’m afraid, still saving energy.
It’s good to know about what effects co-sleeping can have on our children, thank you for this informative post!