Mom and Son Sharing a Bed?

Mom and son sharing a bed is such a controversial topic; at least depending on where you come from. A 2018 survey by BabyQuip opines that sharing a bed is prevalent particularly when parents or guardians are on the road. The American Academy of Pediatrics seems to agree that co-sleeping is widespread.

The practical benefits of a mom and son sharing a bed are quite obvious. The opponents of this practice cite different reasons for their opinion.

Let us be honest. Many mums have shared a bed with their sons at certain points. A whole bunch of celebrities, from Angelina Jolie to Kourtney Kardashian is proponents of co-sleeping. To them, co-sleeping is a form of natural bonding that enhances the sleep quality of both mother and son.

Bed Sharing Around the Globe

Many aborigines closely carry their infants, strapped on some piece of cloth kangaroo style. In the United States, small kids not only have a cold crib of their own, but they also have a nursery room. Young ones in Asia, particularly in Japan, co-sleep with their parents, way into their adolescence. In most parts of Africa, it is hard to find a nursery room. Cribs are not popularly utilized in this part of the world as little ones sleep on their parent’s bed. What’s more, parents allow them to around the house.

In Central/South America, England, and Southern Europe, co-sleeping is part of the parent’s lives.

Is Mom and Son Sharing a Bed a Good or Bad Thing?

So what is the fuss about mom and sharing a bed about? A mother sharing a bed with her son is healthy. Contrary to what many people think, sharing a bed does not always translate to physical intimacy. It is completely fine to sleep together provided the intentions are not wrong. In some families, four members of the family sleep together.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with cuddling your grown son in bed occasionally. For instance, you can sleep with him for comfort whenever he is ill or stressed.

However, if you are uncomfortable cuddling with him, then you should not do it.

How to Stop Co-Sleeping with a Newborn to 18-Month Son

At this age, your son’s sleeping habits are still adaptable. Consistency is key if you are to be successful at training your little one at being comfortable at his crib or bassinet. While it is tempting to bring him into your bed after he feeds or wakes, he will not understand why it is okay to do so at 4 a.m. but not at midnight. Unless it is necessary for you to do so, it is prudent to keep your cot off-limits even for nuzzling for the first 3 months after stopping co-sleeping.

Start the transition by ensuring that your child has a safe environment to sleep. On top of that, ensure that his room is dark. It also helps your little one to know or sense that you are near. For this reason, you can sleep with your baby’s bed sheet before you put it inside his crib.

Placing a noise machine in the room can also be handy at helping babies of all ages sleep soundly.

How to Stop Co-Sleeping with an 18-month to 4-Year-Old Son

When your son reaches this age, you need to start talking to him regarding the importance of sleeping independently. If he has a hard time understanding this new way of doing things, give him a couple of days to get used to the new idea before implementing it. A great way to go about the whole situation is putting a positive spin on the changes. Are you expectant? If yes, avoid the negative nuances of your kid moving to his room. Now that he has a sibling coming, he might think that his/her sister is coming to replace him. To be on the safe side, transition him to his bed around 3-6 months before the baby arrives. This way, you will avoid making the two events seem related.

Another great strategy to ease the transition is by putting a mattress on the floor in his room. Sleep there for several nights. Slowly move the mattress further from his bed until you are no longer in his room. The cold-turkey approach is also magical in this regard.

How to Stop Co-Sleeping with a 5-year-old and Above Son

At this stage, expect a struggle when it comes to moving him to his bed, especially if you have been sleeping with him since he was a child. Just like with the previous stage, it is important that you make him understand the importance of sleeping independently on his bed. Additionally, tell him that it is not the end of cuddles. They will still be there but only for a short time.

Your consistency as a parent and his temperament are the two main factors that influence how long the transition will take.

Whichever method you choose, learning about sleep training is important as it teaches your child to fall asleep independently.