“Parents can do what works best for their family and not feel guilty if they choose to bed-share, because there probably aren’t lasting impacts,” Stony Brook University professor Dr. Lauren Hale concluded. Researchers at Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York concluded that a child’s intellectual and social development was not affected by co-sleeping. They followed 944 low-income mothers and their toddlers, all aged between one and three years of age for the study.
They did point out that The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends against bedsharing during infancy because of its association with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, they found very few studies about bed-sharing between the ages of 1 and 5. Additionally, they found that Hispanic and black mothers were more likely to bed-share with their children ages 1 through 3. Experts agree that although the kids may be fine, sometimes bed-sharing can cause problems in the parent’s relationship. Having a kid in the bed limits sex and time together.
Did you bed-share or co-sleep? Do you think this study will ease some of the mommy guilt associated with bed-sharing and co-sleeping?
