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ERGObaby carrier > Ask The Doctor > Sleep > Transitioning a baby from Co-Sleeping to their own roomTransitioning a baby from Co-Sleeping to their own room
Dear Dr. Markel,
I love being a mother, even when I was sick during my pregnancy. We were in and out of the hospital at least once per month for the whole nine months. I love that she sleeps close to me in her bassinet, but she will be six month old on September 10th. She wakes from her sleep a couple times in the middle of the night and I feed her. Then I put her back in the bed until at least 5 am. The problem is that we would like to have her start sleeping in her crib in her room. I don't want to go backwards were she is sleeping in our bed every night. How do you suggest we move forward with this transition, so it is smooth for me and her.Thank you and look forward to her from you.
Dear Concerned Mother,
I suspect that if you follow your natural instincts, rather than listen to so-called “experts”, you will make the decision that having your baby in bed with you is right for your child.
Every scientific study of infant sleep confirms that babies benefit from co-sleeping, and science consistently provides evidence that the American social norm of isolating babies for sleep can have deleterious effects. Babies who sleep in the family bed learns that their needs will be met and end up well-adjusted, they perform better in school; have higher self esteem, and fewer health problems. Co-sleeping is the norm in most parts of the world. As well, parents who bring their babies to bed sleep longer and better.
Babies who sleep in a family bed learn that their need for warmth and reassurance will be met. They learn that important figures in their emotional world can be trusted to understand and respond with a caring attitude.
Children do, of course, progressively develop the desire to move on and have their own space, including their own sleeping space. Therefore, you do not have to worry that the child will want to stay in the family bed indefinitely.
Susan Markel, M.D.
“peaceful parenting for a peaceful world”
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Dr. Susan Markel, MD, is a Board Certified Pediatrician, and Attachment Parenting Advisor. She is also the author of, "Ask The Doctor," in partnership with ERGObaby.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to visit her website at http://www.AttachmentParentingDoctor.com and request a private consultation.
