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Parents (or Others) Disagree About Co-Sleeping

If friends or family disagree with your choice to co-sleep, it's not that big a deal. Welcome to the world of judgmental parenting. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, will have something to say about your parenting style at some point. Ignore others - you know what's best for your own family. A bigger problem is when parents disagree about co-sleeping. In most cases I've seen it's usually the dad who doesn't want to co-sleep. If you find yourself in this position and you still really want to co-sleep, point out some of the many benefits of co-sleeping to your partner, such as...

• Co-sleeping is cost effective - no crib needed.
• Co-sleeping may reduce stress.
• Co-sleeping is just as safe, if not safer than crib sleeping.
• Co-sleeping is kinder than letting a child cry it out.
• Co-sleeping does not negatively impact development.
• Co-sleeping encourages longer and more successful breastfeeding.
• Co-sleeping is a biologically and historically sound practice - only very recently have babies slept alone.
• Co-sleeping may reduce SIDS risks and result in better baby-parent bonding.
• Co-sleeping is easy, allowing you to care quickly for your baby without getting up all night long.

If you and your partner still disagree, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of relationship upset with the pros and cons of co-sleeping. I know one family where the mama wanted to co-sleep and the dad didn't. Their solution was to move mama and baby into a different room. This family is no longer together, and while it wasn't due to just the co-sleeping issue, it did play a part. Honestly, your child may benefit more if you and your partner have a happy relationship than if he co-sleeps, but of course this will vary from family to family.

+ Co-sleeping tips for dads