Nursery, Baby Spot or Co-sleeping?
By: Roxanne Edwards
More than half
of expecting mothers conflict themselves with the importance of creating a
nursery for their new cuddly baby. By
the time a woman gets to the end of her third trimester, usually she may have
figured out how to create a safe, comfortable, and convenient space for her
newborn. The truth is, whether parents opt for a fully furnished room made into
a nursery, a baby spot alongside the bed or prefer co-sleeping, the
objectives of healthy growth and development may still be achieved, providing
all the necessary resources are in place.
Though nurseries and baby spots are
cute, fun, and may develop your baby into a more independent sleeper, 1 study by
the University of Cape Town
compared the reaction of newborns sleeping in hospital bassinets versus
skin-to-skin. Since an active atomic
system is found to make one more alert, excited or nervous, the research which
measured heart rate variability found babies who slept alone experienced a 176%
increase in atomic activity as well as less ‘quiet sleep.’
In contrast, studies
have reported improved body function and cardiovascular activity in newborns and
particularly preterm babies as a result of skin-to-skin contact with mom.
Certainly, the idea of
co-sleeping does not sit well with many, and typically stirs controversy among
those who believe babies are safest sleeping alone. 39% of individuals from a
national survey of 6000 people
believe co-sleepers are spoiling their baby, and the American Academy of
Pediatrics has informed us about the
increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome while co-sleeping.
But
studies have also reported deaths of infants who sleep alone. These deaths are usually due to choking on
milk, or from suffocation due to inability to lift the head. More often than not, this happens because parents
who sleep separately aren’t able to glimpse on their baby as often as
co-sleepers may, studies reveal.
So what
happens to your nicely decorated nursery or baby spot you asked? After all, you’ve spent days, weeks maybe
even months making sure it’s cozy enough for your new baby. The truth is there are no hard and fast rules
for one to follow. If parents are able
to take all the necessary precautions and utilize them appropriately, care and
comfort can certainly be accomplished in any of these situations.
Just
remember, sleeping with an infant in bed may not be the wisest decision for
some parents or guardians. So if you
aren’t one of those conscious sleepers, or your bed is not very baby friendly,
do yourself a favor and put your baby back in his nursery or his spot.
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Roxanne is a writer, blogger and visual
media host of kids and moms health and lifestyle. You can contact her at: mommylifestylebyroxanneedwards@yahoo.com
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