- You’re able to sleep better at night. Babies move about a lot as they sleep, which might wake up a parent sharing the bed with them.
- Babies who are used to falling asleep in their own beds have an easier time sleeping away from their parents, whether at a daycare or with a friend or relatives.
- It’s less of a hassle to get newborns used to sleeping in their own beds from the beginning than it is to switch their sleeping arrangements later on.
Shift Work
Not all families, especially those with more than one child and in whom at least one parent works overnight, can benefit from night shift arrangements.
In two-parent families where both parents work full-time, however, dividing up the nighttime responsibilities might make everyone feel more rested and offer the non-birthing parent more time to connect with the newborn. Parents at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression may benefit from the additional sleep that comes with taking shifts.
RELATED: New Parents’ Guide To Feeding Your Baby The First Year
Early To Bed
Babies tend to nap often throughout the day and at odd hours that may not be convenient for them to sleep, but it is advised that parents get their rest when their infant does. As cliché as it may seem, forget the washing or the dishes and accept sleep where and whenever you can get it, especially in those early phases.
Sleep-Sharing
Why do some parents choose to sleep with their children? This is the answer most parents give who believe in the good it does: Proponents of bed-sharing claim and some research seems to back them up, that doing so:
- Increases the number of months a woman breastfeeds.
- Makes it easier for newborns to fall asleep.
- Improves the amount of sleep both mothers and babies receive at night.
- Allows women to spend more time with their infants because of the convenience of nursing at night.