Various so-called “parenting professionals” (essentially anyone with internet access) often caution against the practice of co-sleeping with your child. Their primary concerns are safety-related, but some speculate it may lead to a child insisting on sharing a bed well into adulthood—either until they reach 40 or until they finally move out, whichever comes first.
Personally, I tend to steer clear of co-sleeping, except during holidays, weekends, or the second Tuesday of each month. I also resort to it on those nights when my child persistently disrupts my slumber. Logically, it seems easier to simply reach over and “shush” my little one than to traipse down the hall to their room, right? Wrong.
If you haven’t yet made the choice to welcome your little one into your bed but are considering it, here are some critical points to ponder:
- Regardless of whether you have a spacious California King, a child can make that bed feel as cramped as a capsule hotel room in Japan. You may even feel as though they are attempting to reclaim their spot back in Club Uterus.
- Mere proximity isn’t sufficient; at least one part of their body needs to be pressed against you continuously. It’s as if their hands and feet possess a unique talent for locating you, akin to tiny, chubby Liam Neesons with “a very particular set of skills”—skills that make them a “nightmare for people like you” (think fish-hooking your mouth while also digging into your sciatic nerve). No matter how much you try to escape, they will always find you.
- Children tend to run at an average temperature of about 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Dress them in a sleep sack or footie pajamas, and you’re in for a long, sweaty night.
- Kids have disproportionately large and remarkably hard heads. When that Charlie Brown-esque noggin collides with your nose at 3 a.m., they remain unperturbed while you are left in tears.
- Have you ever awakened to someone clutching your face, turning it toward your partner, and shouting, “Whose face is that?!” I have, and it’s genuinely unsettling.
So there you have it: co-sleeping. There is nothing “co” about it. Someone might sleep, but it certainly won’t be you. Nonetheless, tonight you will likely find my child nestled in our bed, because there’s something undeniably delightful about waking up to a child with bed-head, their face resembling that of a Shar Pei. If the experts are correct, I only have about 37 more years to cherish these moments.
For more insights into parenthood, consider reading about home insemination options at this post. And if you’re looking for more authoritative resources, check out Make a Mom regarding at-home insemination kits, or the NHS for valuable information on pregnancy and related topics.
Summary
Co-sleeping presents unique challenges for parents, often leading to sleepless nights and unexpected disturbances. While experts may warn against it for various reasons, many parents still find themselves sharing their beds with their little ones. The experience, while fraught with difficulties, can also bring joy in those fleeting moments of intimacy with their children.