Co-Sleeping: The Risks and the Benefits - MarksDailyApple.com

[Bodeswell]

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Room-sharing is strongly associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS), and the American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends that parents room-share early on.

Co-sleeping makes breastfeeding easier. By now, we all know how hugely beneficial breastfeeding is to a child’s development and health. Breastmilk confers immunological benefits, transfers commensal gut bacteria,
and promotes bonding and closeness between mother and child. It’s
nutritious (especially if the mother’s diet is nutritious), and it’s the
only food everyone agrees we’re designed to consume. Further, breastfeeding is strongly and consistently associated with a lack of SIDS, a link far more consistent than the unclear link between certain types of co-sleeping and SIDS.

Co-sleeping normalizes the stress response in children. For infants, cortisol regulation in response to physical stress should be “moderate,” rather than heightened. Babies who are solitary sleepers show greater sensitivity to mild stressors, like a bathing session.

Co-sleeping facilitates the bond between parent and child.
Skin-to-skin contact promotes the release of oxytocin, a powerful
hormone and neurotransmitter that solidifies and strengthens the bond
between people.

Co-sleeping may result in better-adjusted, more independent children and adults.
While you might think that co-sleeping children grow up to be dependent
and helpless, most research suggests this is not the case. Some studies even show that children who co-slept as infants grow up to be more self reliant and independent. Others suggest
that co-sleeping reduces tantrums, produces less “fearful” children,
boosts self-esteem later in life, and helps both males and females
become comfortable with intimacy as adults (among many other possible
psychological benefits). At the very least, co-sleeping doesn’t create
needy, dependent kids.

[stigskog]

The correllation to strong reactions to mild stressors like a bathing is very interesting.