Does Co-Sleeping Cause Sleepless Nights?
Over at Babble there was an interesting article on sleeping, specifically co-sleeping. The general idea is that co-sleeping leads to sleep problems in children. Apparently ignoring all the child who did not co-sleep that still have sleep problems and ignoring the ones who did co-sleep and had no problems. Luckily the comment section has several voices of reason in it.
How a person sleeps is such an individual thing, and can be influenced by a thousand other issues. Diet, exercise, TV viewing, are among the things that influence sleeping habits. You also have to take into account each individual child’s personality. My oldest was a great sleeper from the minute he was born, my youngest hated sleep from the minute he was born. Interesting enough I’m a happy sleeper while their father stays up all night.
From talking regularly to others who co-sleep I have seen over and over again that there is no real pattern. Some kids sleep well, some do not. Some are ready to sleep all night by a few months, some might need a few years. Just as with potty training rushing a child too soon generally only leads to frustration.
While I know that co-sleeping does not work for everyone, making blanket statements about it in this way is a bit annoying. Those of us who have chosen that sleeping method probably know first hand the many insightful comments people can make when they disagree.
I do have to admit the bad taste in my mouth from one commenter who feels leaving an infant to cry for 45 minutes isn’t that bad. Maybe to an adult, though I’d be hard pressed to feel that if if my partner left me to cry that long alone I’d be so light about it, but for an infant or young child with no concept of time 45 minutes might as well be a lifetime. Especially when they are not mature enough to understand what is happening or why.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:20 am
I have two ends of the spectrum- my son sleeps like a log and he was and still is a co-sleeper, not even the loudest thunderstrom can wake him. My DD also a cosleeper is a light sleeper- wakes at a drop of the hat- and wants to nurse. Where I slept with son, not with daughter. One day when they find their way to their own bed I will be sad and miss my “sleepless” nights. Truth is nothing that a cup of coffee can’t cure.:)
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 am
“Apparently ignoring all the child who did not co-sleep that still have sleep problems and ignoring the ones who did co-sleep and had no problems.”
I’ve no idea what this means.
Actually, I’ve no idea what the point of this article is. You didn’t answer your own (awkwardly worded) question.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Ian, I have to disagree. The question is rather straightforward. And my answer is very clearly in the article. But just in case, no Ian I do not think co-sleeping is to blame for children who sleep poorly.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I just can’t understand what all the fuss is - does it really matter where a child sleeps? My boys sleep with me and I have no problem with that at all. In fact, I miss them terribly when they decide they want to sleep in their own beds. As long as they function fine in life, who gives a whit where they sleep??
We are a family who travels on bikes, and spend most nights crammed into our itty-bitty tent - all four of us together. I think it’s wonderful to have the whole family together and think that’s one of the best parts of traveling as we do.
We will be taking off in 10 days to ride our bicycles from Alaska to ARgentina and will end up with LOTS of night crammed into our tent. Is that a bad thing?
You can read about our journey at http://www.familyonbikes.org