Q: Is it okay for young children to share the bed with their parents?
A: When parents make the decision to share their bed with their child, they must exercise great caution. Due to the rise in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy urges parents to be aware of the suffocation risks for their baby. Any bed that an infant sleeps in should be firm and there should be no excess blankets or pillows. As one might expect, water beds are hazardous for infants and should be avoided. In addition, if either parent has been drinking or using drugs that may affect the depth of their sleep, children should not be allowed in the bed.
That said, sharing a bed with a child certainly has its luxuries, especially for a breastfeeding mother. When the baby is right there, there is no need to get out of bed, and new mothers can hopefully get an increased amount of much-needed sleep.
Even after the breastfeeding stage, it's a reality that many toddlers continue to visit their parents' bed at least once a week. This could be due to nightmares or separation anxiety. Normally, this tendency levels off at around the age of four.
Carmen Alonso, MD, is Director of Residency Training for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Alonso is a board certified pediatrician and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. in child psychiatry.
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