Bedsharing: The Facts About the Family Bed

Recently, the term "attachment parenting" has come into the spotlight as a wonderful way to raise your children. One of the key points of attachment parenting is bedsharing, but it's a concept that is often misunderstood. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about bedsharing.

What is the difference between bedsharing and cosleeping?

First, let's get some terminology out of the way. The terms cosleeping and bedsharing are often used interchangeably, but they're not actually the same thing. Cosleeping means sharing a room with your baby, but not necessarily your bed. If you have a bassinet or crib in your room, then you are cosleeping with your child. Most co-sleeping families have baby's bed right next to the parents' bed, but this is not always the case. Bedsharing is pretty self-explanatory. It means sharing a bed with your child.

What are the benefits of bedsharing?

Bedsharing fosters a unique closeness among family members. Babies and young children thrive on snuggles, and bedsharing extends the available snuggle time. It can also be a great way for working parents to reconnect with their children at the end of a long day.

Breastfeeding is also easier for a bedsharing mother. Most babies wake up hungry at least once during the night. In the early days and weeks, it can take a baby up to an hour to nurse. That's a long time to sit in a rocking chair beside a crib. Bedsharing makes nighttime nursing much easier. The mother can snuggle close to baby, help him latch on, and then doze, if not completely fall asleep again. Even if you don't sleep while baby is nursing, you can still feel more rested simply because you are able to lie down while nursing.

In addition to the emotional benefits, bedsharing also carries significant financial benefits. If you choose to share a bed with your child, you won't have to spend money on a crib or bassinet. You may even be able to skip the toddler bed, depending on how long you and your child are comfortable with bedsharing. You may find that you are able to skip right to a twin bed that will last your child for many years, rather than a toddler bed which is only appropriate for a short time.