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Home › Articles › Sleep Issues › The Family Bed

The Family Bed

Is it for You?

By Shel Franco

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For many parents, where a child sleeps is the easiest decision of all. Perhaps that's simply because they didn't know they had a choice. Others, however, agonize over whether or not to allow their child to sleep in Mom and Dad's bed.

Few parenting topics are as controversial as the family bed. But before you roll your eyes or pull back the covers, experts and veteran parents offer this advice to help you decide.

The Good Side
Why would anyone want their baby in bed with them? Well for one thing, it's easy, especially on the breastfeeding mother.

Recent studies have shown that breastfeeding babies who sleep in the same bed with Mom receive more sleep than breastfeeding infants that sleep alone, says James J. McKenna, Ph.D., professor of biological anthropology and the director of the Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame.

At the same time, Mom gets substantially more sleep. "Babies will breastfeed more often with less disruption to Mother's sleep," says McKenna.

McKenna sees this as a distinct advantage, since the increased breastfeeding translates into less disease and morbidity. You will also be close enough to ensure your baby's safety in a variety of situations – from natural disasters to potential breathing problems.

Less disruption translates to a better rested and quite possibly a happier mother-baby couple, which can mean a happier home life for Daddy.


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