It’s a common experience for many new parents – your baby just seems to sleep better when co-sleeping with mom. But why is that? There are several reasons why babies tend to sleep more soundly when sharing a bed with their mother.
Mom’s Smell
One of the main reasons is mom’s familiar smell. A baby recognizes mom’s natural scent and finds it comforting and soothing. Babies associate mom’s smell with warmth, milk, and safety. Having mom’s familiar odor close by helps baby relax and sleep more peacefully.
Proximity for Feeding
Being close to mom also allows for easier nighttime feeding. Rather than having to fully wake up and cry for a feeding, a baby who co-sleeps can stir, breastfeed, and go right back to sleep. This convenience helps minimize disruptive wakings that can interfere with sound sleep.
Warmth
A parent’s body provides warmth that lulls babies to sleep. The sensation of a parent’s warm skin against theirs gives comfort and a feeling of protection. A mother’s breathing and heart rate also provide a soothing rhythm that baby associates with bedtime. Feeling mom’s warmth nearby relaxes babies and helps them sleep more deeply.
Hearing Mom’s Breathing
Hearing mom’s breathing is also calming and reassuring for baby. Babies become used to hearing their mother’s breathing sounds from the womb. After birth, hearing mom breathe in and out reminds baby of their safe, cozy prenatal environment. The familiar respiration sounds help baby feel comfortable and secure as they drift off to sleep.
Less Startle Reflex
When babies sleep alone in a crib, they often startle themselves awake. Even in a quiet room, normal baby noises like grunts or sighs can cause them to suddenly arouse. But when co-sleeping, mom’s presence dampens baby’s startle reflex. With mom right there, little noises don’t disturb baby nearly as much. This helps minimize night wakings.
Regulation of Heart Rate and Breathing
Studies have shown that an infant’s heart rate, breathing patterns, and sleep cycles synchronize with the parent while co-sleeping. A mother’s rhythmic breathing and heartbeat provide a regulating effect. Baby’s systems align with mom’s, signaling rest time and encouraging deeper sleep.
Nighttime Nursing is Easier
Co-sleeping makes nighttime nursing simpler. Rather than having to get up and walk to a separate room multiple times per night, mom can breastfeed baby while side-lying in bed. This allows both of them to stay rested while baby eats. Remaining in bed prevents mom and baby from fully waking up and then struggling to go back to sleep.
Decreased Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is a hormone released when babies experience stress and anxiety. Co-sleeping helps lower cortisol secretions at night because babies feel comforted by mom’s close presence. The lack of cortisol promotes uninterrupted sleep cycles.
Regulation of Body Temperature
Infants have difficulty regulating their body temperature, often becoming too cold or overheated. Parent-infant co-sleeping helps baby maintain an ideal temperature. If baby gets chilly, they can snuggle closer to mom for warmth. If baby becomes too warm, they can move slightly away.
Fewer Pauses in Breathing
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is linked to respiratory pauses during sleep. Research shows that bed-sharing decreases the number of episodes where a baby temporarily stops breathing. This may be related to the synchronizing effects of parent-infant co-sleeping.
Decreased Risk of SIDS
Speaking of SIDS risk, some studies have found that co-sleeping reduces the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Again, this may be attributed to the regulating effects on breathing, temperature, and cardiac rhythms. Additionally, co-sleeping enables easy breastfeeding, which itself lowers SIDS risk.
More Secure Attachment
Co-sleeping facilitates attachment between baby and parents. Nighttime closeness establishes secure bonding, which is vitally important in infancy. Baby feels loved and safe with parents nearby. This security promotes healthy development.
Parents Get More Sleep
Ironically, parents often get more sleep when co-sleeping. That’s because mother and baby arouse less when they share a sleep surface. Both get more consolidated rest compared to solo sleepers who fully wake numerous times. Granted, moms are still attuned to baby’s presence and noises. But minimal arousals let everyone sleep better.
Easier to Settle Baby
Babies who co-sleep tend to be easier to settle both at bedtime and during night wakings. There’s no need to completely rouse baby for nursing or cuddling to get them back to sleep. Mom’s familiar presence, scent, warmth, and sounds are already right there, helping baby sleep peacefully through more of the night.
Enables Dream Feeding
Dream feeding is when mom breastfeeds baby while he’s asleep. This takes advantage of baby’s natural tendency to nurse in the night without fully waking up. Dream feeding is only possible when co-sleeping, and it helps baby tank up on calories without interrupting their sleep.
Parents Report Better Sleep Quality
Though it seems counterintuitive, parent surveys indicate that both mothers and babies get higher quality sleep via co-sleeping. Despite more arousals, moms report feeling better rested compared to those who sleep separately from baby. And babies appear to sleep more soundly when near mom overnight.
Facilitates Monitoring Baby
Co-sleeping allows parents to easily monitor baby through the night. They can notice little noises, movements, and breathing irregularities without baby having to cry. This vigilance is reassuring for some parents. Proximity facilitates checking on baby’s well-being.
Comfort for Baby During Sleep Transitions
Babies cycles through active and quiet sleep phases throughout the night. During transitions between sleep stages, babies can become restless or agitated. Mom’s presence during this turbulence soothes baby physically and emotionally. Her touch guides baby back into deeper slumber.
Help for Breastfeeding Difficulties
Some babies have difficulty latching, staying latched, or nursing effectively. Co-sleeping provides extra time for practice and enables mom to quickly intervene when needed. Keeping baby close offers reassurance when feeding is frustrating.
Decreased Bedtime Hassles and Stalling
Co-sleeping infant tend to be easier to put to bed. Removing the separation anxiety of being alone in a crib prevents bedtime struggles. Babies settle in more quickly and peacefully with the comfort of their mother’s body so near.
Better Bonding and Attachment
The nighttime closeness of co-sleeping enhances mother-child bonding. The ongoing physical proximity and sensory connection deepen attachments. Parents’ intuitive responses to babies during the night strengthen non-verbal communication.
Reduces Separation Anxiety
Babies experience real anxiety and stress when separated from caregivers. Co-sleeping minimizes frightening alone time. knowing mom is within arm’s reach overnight provides continuity of care. Separation is extremely distressing for babies, so eliminating it improves sleep.
Facilitates Comforting
Between 4-6 months of age, babies become aware of being separate individuals from caregivers. This causes significant stress. Co-sleeping enables immediate comforting touch when baby becomes frightened. Quickly soothing baby back to sleep prevents escalation of sadness and fear.
Decreased Bedtime Fears
Being left alone in the crib triggers fears of abandonment in some babies. But co-sleeping means mom is there before, during, and after sleep onset. Having her close by eliminates bedtime fears of being left helpless and hungry. This allows more peaceful transitions into slumber.
Relieves Pain and Discomfort
Little aches and pains crop up during infancy – from colic to teething discomfort. Having mom’s reassuring presence and touch helps soothe babies through these troubles. The comfort of contact eases distress and improves rest.
Dads Can Participate Too!
While co-sleeping is typically associated with mothers, fathers can definitely participate too. Their scent, heartbeat, touch, and vigilance also comfort baby. Including dads encourages strong paternal bonding and gives mom a break.
Safety Considerations
While co-sleeping indeed comes with many potential benefits, there are also some safety precautions parents should take:
- Always put baby to sleep on their back, not their stomach or side
- Ensure baby cannot roll into soft bedding that could cover their face
- Do not sleep with baby if you are extremely tired or take any medicines/substances that cause drowsiness
- Moms, tie your hair back to prevent entanglement around baby’s face
- Make sure baby does not get wedged between the wall, headboard, or footboard
Conclusion
Co-sleeping with mom is developmentally normal and biologically appropriate for babies. Infants sleep better with the sights, sounds, scents, touch, and proximity of their primary caregiver. The mutual regulatory effects promote deeper and safer sleep. Closeness and responsiveness at night cement secure bonding. While precautions are needed, co-sleeping overall nurtures infant well-being and healthy attachment.