Page 101 - April Issue

in focus: toddler

notion that co-sleep is detrimental to study concludes that parents
the psychological or physical health who bring their babies to
of infants. If science consistently bed sleep longer and better.
provides evidence that the American Children who share sleep with
social norm of isolating babies for their parents are actually more
sleep can have deleterious effects, independent than their peers.
why do we continue the 150-year They perform better in school,
crib culture in the United States? have higher self esteem, and
Why do parents flock to Toys R’ Us to fewer health problems. After all,
purchase dolls that have heart beats, who is more likely to be well-
sing lullabies and snore when they adjusted, the child who learns
can do the same for free? McKenna that his needs will be met, or
suggests that there are several factors the one who is left alone for
that maintain this cultural norm. long periods of time? McKenna
Foremost is the American value of suggests that it is confusing
self-sufficiency. Independence is an for a baby to receive cuddles
during the day while also being
has long held that babies “Babies feel nurtured taught that the same behaviour mother, baby & child April 2011
who sleep with their mothers and comforted is inappropriate at night.
enjoy greater immunological
benefits from breastfeeding knowing that their The Commons report
because they nurse twice mother is nearby and states that when babies are
as frequently as their mothers sleep better left alone to cry themselves
counterparts who sleep because they do not to sleep, levels of cortisol, a
alone. In his book on Sudden stress hormone, are elevated.
Infant Death Syndrome, have to Commons suggests that the
paediatrician William Sears wake up and run constant stimulation by cortisol
cites co-sleeping as a down the hall to in infancy causes physical
proactive measure parents comfort a baby who changes in the brain. “It makes
can take to reduce the risk is either crying or you more prone to the effects
of this tragedy. McKenna’s squirming in his crib.” of stress, more prone to illness,
research shows that babies including mental illness, and
who sleep with parents spend important characteristic for a makes it harder to recover from
less time in Level III sleep, a successful person in our society. illness,” he concludes.
state of deep sleep when the We take great pride in watching
risk of apneas are increased. our babies pick themselves up A few parents do experience
Further, co-sleeping babies by their own bootie straps. But difficulty sleeping with a baby in
learn to imitate healthy the assumption that co-sleeping their bed. For them, a “sidecar”
breathing patterns from inhibits independence is pure or bedside sleeper is an ideal
their bunkmates. Every cultural mythology. In fact, the way to meet their needs for
scientific study of infant sleep opposite it true. rest and their baby’s need for
confirms that babies benefit co-sleep. Keeping a crib or
from co-sleeping. Not one The Reality bassinet in the parents’ room
shred of evidence exists is another option. A “family
to support the widely held Though co-sleeping is common bed” is not for everyone, but
in most parts of the world, creative solutions for co-sleep
many American parents would are abundant in our consumer-
not consider it because they friendly culture.
fear it will cause them sleep
deprivation. Every scientific CREDITS:
Dr Saliha Afridi
Clinical Psychologist
Human Relations Institute
04-3658498

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