Study Shows Sleeping Next To Our Kids Is Normal And Probably Better
Co-sleeping, or "trying to fall asleep while your child kicks you in the back all night long," as it's more commonly known, may be a nightmare for a lot of American parents, but it might actually be the norm.
Robert and Sarah LeVine, researchers at Harvard University, have found that what's normal to us (putting our babies to bed in a separate room or bed) is actually abnormal in other parts of the world. Moreover, co-sleeping might be better for your kids. So next time your baby soils their diaper in the bed beside you, just tell scientific research that it's their turn to change it.
Doctors Have Always Pushed Separate Sleeping
We all want what's best for our kids, so of course we want them to develop the best sleeping habits possible. So naturally, the LeVines wanted to figure out if the rumors about separate sleeping with infants were true.
As parents, we've been told for many years about the importance of teaching your child to sleep on their own from a young age. Not only do we do this because we want just a few hours of peace of quiet (remember those?), but because we've been warned by doctors about the dangers of accidentally rolling over and suffocating our children.
Americans Are In The Minority Here
While we like to feel like we're in agreement with the world on this issue, apparently, co-sleeping divides us all. The LeVines did some digging and found out that Americans, Brits, Germans, and other parts of Western Europe pretty much all move their infants to their own sleeping space before getting some shut-eye.
But most of the world disagrees with this practice. Many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America practice co-sleeping. And while these countries have their own infant mortality rates just like the US, the LeVines believe this doesn't have a whole lot to do with co-sleeping.
Co-Sleeping Is Perfectly Safe And Probably Better For Kids' Sleep
You may not be convinced of the power of co-sleeping yet, so allow me to introduce some numbers. Japan's infant mortality rate is 2.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the rate in the United States is 6.2. Moreover, their rate of sudden infant death syndrome is roughly half the U.S. rate.
So we can surely say that co-sleeping isn't unsafe—but we can also say that it's probably healthier for the baby in general. When the LeVines interviewed the Gusii tribe in Kenya, which practices co-sleeping, they had never even heard of babies waking up during the night.
Cuddle Up Because It's Better For You And Your Kids
Since babies who sleep with their parents don't wake up as much, both the parents and the kids will be more well-rested during the day. You're going to feel the effects almost immediately.
Getting a good night's sleep makes you better at cognitive tests, have quicker reactions, and your long- and short-term memory improve. While many parents worry about dependency issues developing in children who co-sleep, societies where it's common don't have children who are notably less independent than American children.
