Despite their almost identical names, co-sleeping and cododo are two very distinct practices. While both take place in the parents' bedroom at night, they differ in how the baby is positioned. After disappearing from our societies for a long time, both techniques have been making a comeback in Western family homes for the past few years.
Are you confused and want to know the difference between co-sleeping and cosleeping? Ouatine & Cumulus tells you more!
A peaceful sleep between mom and dad.
Co-sleeping and bed-sharing follow medical advice, which recommends that babies sleep in their parents' room until at least six months of age , a period when they acquire sufficient maturity to sleep alone. Sleeping near their parents helps newborns feel reassured , strengthens their bond, and also improves their brain development.
To follow medical recommendations, many parents wonder about the best technique to use to ensure that the whole family gets restful nights: installing a crib next to the parents' bed or having the newborn sleep between his parents?
Two practices are opposed: on the one hand, proponents of cosleeping, which involves having the baby sleep in the same bed as the parents ; on the other hand, those who prefer co-sleeping, the use of a small bed or cradle installed in the parents' room , but which remains independent of the marital bed.
So, where should the baby sleep? And, above all, what is the best practice for restorative, healthy, and reassuring sleep for both the baby and its parents?
Co-sleeping, adapted to everyone's sleep needs.
Co-sleeping is the most suitable practice for restorative and soothing sleep , which is why it is very often recommended by healthcare professionals. Using a co-sleeping bed, i.e., a small bed or cradle placed next to the parents' bed, strengthens the bond between the newborn and their parents, but also facilitates the transition to their own room, starting at 6 months old.
Having become accustomed to sleeping in their own bed within a cocoon, gradually moving your little one out of the parents' room to integrate them into their own room at their own pace poses fewer problems than for a baby whose nights have been spent alongside you in your bed. The co-sleeping technique also allows the baby to more easily find their sleep rhythm and have longer sleep cycles.
Cosleeping, sharing your bed with baby.
The practice of cosleeping is viewed less favorably by doctors, as it is considered more dangerous . It involves having the child sleep between the parents in the marital bed. While some see only benefits in cosleeping, others find far more risks.
Among the advantages of bed-sharing, we can cite easier breastfeeding ; studies even show that babies who share their bed with their mothers are breastfed for a longer period. The baby's sleep would also be less disturbed, as would that of the parents, who can feed or comfort the baby without leaving their bed. The mother's responsiveness would also be faster.
Despite this, experts continue to advise against this practice, as the risks are far greater than the benefits. Therefore, a child sleeping between their parents is actually less safe than in a crib next to the bed. The reason? During sleep, children (like adults) tend to move around; the newborn could fall out of bed or end up under one of their parents due to their parent's movements during sleep!
Cosleeping is also said to be bad for the mother's sleep. Indeed, maternal instinct remains active even during sleep and, according to a scientific Israeli study published in the journal Sleep Medicine , mothers who sleep in the same bed as their child have lighter sleep because they are more alert. They report having many longer nighttime awakenings and lower quality sleep compared to mothers who practice co-sleeping.
In short...
While the idea of sleeping in the same bed as your newborn may seem appealing, it is still a practice discouraged by doctors. It's best to place your child in a co-sleeping cradle or a small bed near your own bed .
If you still decide to practice cosleeping , remember to take the necessary precautions, such as installing small barriers around your bed frame or only practicing cosleeping between mother and infant, without a third person in the bed, and by safely delimiting the baby's sleeping area so that you cannot unintentionally enter their space during sleep.
Proximity between parents and child is paramount in the first few months after birth, but safety remains important, and it is therefore essential to do everything to ensure that your sleep, as well as that of your newborn, is optimal.
