Infant Co-Sleeping With Parents: Understanding the Reasons and Results of the Practice, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Sleeping, unlike what people may say about it being just a mere activity for the day, is a bonding moment for some people especially those who realize a need to bond with their family members further. Psychologists admit that the pre-sleeping phase often gives a person the most relaxing point of the day (Iglowstein, et al, 2003). This is even improved if an individual is sleeping with another [may it be a (or some) member/s of the family or an intimate partner]. The satisfaction that co-sleeping provides often create a cozy feeling to individuals before they go about “to retire” in the night (Iglowstein, et al, 2003). Having the “happy vibe” before going to bed has been proven effective in reducing the stress of most individuals that experience pressuring events all throughout the day.

What about infants? Children are likely to enjoy such feeling as well. The emotional connection they establish with their parents during the pre-sleeping phase are often defined to help the young ones especially if it is not done regularly. The case about infants however is considered possible. Unlike the case with children, it is rather important to give attention to the different factors that could greatly affect the young one’s state of mind as well as his health.

In the study that follows, exploring the different elements that define infant sleeping shall be better presented. Through gaining insights on the issue with the utilization of credible resources, the said issue shall be explored further. Notably, this research hopes to create a distinctive source of information that parents could use as basis when they tend to seek advice on whether or not infant co-sleeping is a good practice to embrace.

Assumptions about Co-Sleeping with Infants

Sleeping with infants may be deemed necessary by some culture while some others may see it as somewhat dangerous to the child. Question is, is it really just the culture that identifies whether or not co-sleeping with infants is helpful? Although it is an important aspect to consider culture and the origins of living situation that humans are likely accustomed to, this research would be more based on depending its response to the issue through the use of references reflecting points of distinction based on psychology and behavioral science.

Goldberg and Keller’s (2007) study on in infant co-sleeping practices defines the practice as a common point of connection that parents often want to establish with a new born [towards the different phases of the child’s growth]. The said authors follow a definition that instantiates co-sleeping under different types. Co-sleeping, according to them, should not be singled out through considering the act of actually sharing bed with the infant. Instead, it should also include the act of sharing a room with the young individual or any particular act that constitutes close connection with the infant through not moving his sleeping area away or outside the room of the parents.

Parents are noted to prefer such sleeping arrangements because of two particular reasons. One is that of the bond that it creates between them and the child. Even parents know [even without the existence of academic or scholastic evidence to the matter] that spending time with their child/children gives them and their family a sense of connection between each other. Two, some parents see that such practice is the best arrangement especially for mothers who are breastfeeding. Keeping the infant close to where they sleep or right beside them in the bed reduces stress of getting up and pushing themselves towards another room just to give some feeding. Among these assumptions, the second one seems to be the most used explanation of parents. It seems that it is not that they want to ‘squish’ the baby or anything, they just simply want to reduce the stress that the act of getting up and attending to the young one at night brings about.

In relation to the same issue, another study by Keeler and Goldberg (2004) accomplished three years before the other, presents a distinctive indication on the different reasons behind the practice of co-sleeping. In this study, they intended to seek a deeper understanding with regards the said reasons accordingly. Some of the reasons explored by the said authors during the said time included the need to provide comfort for the infant and the desire of the parents to connect or to bond with the young one. After pointing out the reasons, Keller and Goldberg begins to outline the possible results of such action which could be both positive or negative to the child and the parents in the years that follow. In this study, they point out that it is the phase of infancy onwards the fifth year of a child’s life that psychologists find it essential for parents to establish points of learning for the young one. Notably, this phase is often referred to as the child’s formative years. Being formative as it is, it entails to create a great impact on what kind of person a child is going to develop into. The points of consideration explored by the authors with regards the positive or negative effects of co-sleeping with infants shall be defined further in the sections that follow.

The Positive Effects

For the infant, warmth, comfort and security are the primary elements of satisfaction that is positive provided through co-sleeping. For the parents, it is the boding that is considered most important. Nevertheless, it should also be included that some parents simply see co-sleeping as the most practical arrangement of rest when it comes to rearing an infant from birth towards its early years of growth. Parents who define their act under these circumstances often invoke a sense of distinction when it comes to practically giving attention to how they connect with a newly born towards its weaning years.

Breast-feeding is one of the connecting elements assumed to have a great impact on the decision to co-sleep with a baby. When a mother gives birth to an infant, that first touch creates a lasting connection for both individuals. As the infant grows, breastfeeding remains to be rather the connecting point between the mother and her child. To make sure that breastfeeding is done properly even amidst the pressures and stress that labor and delivery of the baby brought about, the mother and the child are situated beside each other, or at times closer together. What of days and weeks that come after at least seven days after delivery? Some parents see the need to remain with their infant child to at least give him the warmth, comfort and the feeling of security that he needs to be assured of.

In later years, Goldberg and Keller (2004) found out positive effects on the child as they grow out of the need of co-sleeping with their parents. True, these children develop weaning instinct at a much later stage, yet they are considerably more confident and more independent in later years of their lives. This fact has been realized to define the young individuals better since the co-sleeping practices provided them with the chance to share more time with their parents while developing a sense of satisfaction that they are loved and that they are wanted. This then creates for them a less insecure stage in later life.

The Negative Effects

One of the most alarming negative effects of co-sleeping is SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. This is especially true when it comes to sharing the bed with a very small infant. In hospitals, LBW babies or low birth weight infants are suggested to spend more time closer to their mothers. They need all the warmth they could get to retain the heat in their body and survive. Later on though., sleeping with such small ones often endanger their lives as at least 30% of those who practice sleeping with their small infants end up accidentally ‘squishing’ them ought of unconscious sleeping. What constitutes the situation further is that of the manner by which the parents set up the bed. It is suggested that even though the parents are allowed to share their beds with their younger offspring, it is important to give them their own space. This would allow the parents to be reminded [even in sleep] to be alert enough as they are in bed with a small infant and that they should take extra care with their movements. Another supposed negative effect of co-sleeping is the late independence of the children. Nevertheless, through a series of psychological studies, more researches prove that such practice provides more self-confidence to the children rather than setting them apart from the parents at an early age brings about.

Conclusion

Based from the inference presented in this research, co sleeping does have its pros and cons. Understandably though, the outcome of the practice on the development of children in later years present a more relative source of dependable thought. Children who are given the chance to share a specific span of time with their parents [from infancy towards the early years of being a toddler] establish much better source of self-confidence compared to those who were set apart from the parents immediately after birth. The feeling of belonging, being loved, being wanted and being appreciated that co-sleeping provides during the first formative years of the young one gives a distinctive source of self-confidence and positive independence that could help the children as they grow older into maturity. It is important though that parents consider extra care in case such practice of sleeping is to be given particular attention to.

References:

Goldberg, W and Keller, M. (2004). Co-Sleeping: Help or Hindrance for Young Children’s Independence? Infant and Child Development Journal.

Goldberg, W and Keller, M. (2007). Co-Sleeping During Infancy and Early Childhood: Key Findings and Future Directions. Infant Child Development Journal.

Iglowstein I, Jenni OG, Molinari L, Largo RH (February 2003). “Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: reference values and generational trends”. Pediatrics 111 (2): 302–7.16: 457–469.