Also see Sleep & Breastfeeding challenges (scroll down to Nighttime feeding)
Articles
Co-sleeping - Another Way to Promote Infant Health by Jennifer Coburn
“Every scientific study of infant sleep confirms that babies benefit from co-sleeping. Not one shred of evidence exists to support the widely-held notion that co-sleep is detrimental to the psychological or physical health of infants.
If science consistently provides
evidence that the American social norm of isolating babies for sleep
can have deleterious effects, why do we continue the 150-year crib
culture in the United States? Why do parents flock to Toys R' Us to
purchase dolls that have heart beats, sing lullabies, and snore when
they can do the same for free?”(Source).
Is sleeping with my baby safe? Can it reduce the risk of SIDS? by James McKenna, Director, Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory, University of Notre Dame
“Infants and parents sleeping
together or in proximity to one another is how the human infant's
nutritional, transportational, social-emotional, and thermal needs
continue to be met worldwide. This includes Japan, where the rates of
SIDS are the lowest in the world”(Source).
Guidelines to Sleeping Safe with Infants: Maximizing the chances of Safe Infant Sleep in the Solitary and Co sleeping (Specifically, Bed-sharing) Contexts by James McKenna, Director, Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory, University of Notre Dame
Co-Sleeping: yes, no, sometimes? By Dr William Sears
Ten Reasons to Sleep Next to Your Child at Night by Jan Hunt
Books – co sleeping
‘Good Nights: The Happy Parents' Guide to the Family Bed (and a Peaceful Night's Sleep!)’ by Maria Goodavage & Dr Jay Gordon
“Put your concerns about the family bed to rest. Dr. Gordon and Maria Goodavage have written a creative and easy-to-use guide on safety, coping with criticism, and even keeping the spark in your marriage. With warmth and humour, the authors of Good Nights: The Happy Parent's Guide to the Family Bed, give you everything you need in order to thrive, and at times, simply survive with the family bed. They have taken a comprehensive look at scientific research, surprising benefits, safety, sound sleep, sex, saying good-bye and more. And in the process, dispel myths and worries, give sound direction and advice and help you overcome obstacles”(Source).
‘Three in a Bed: The Benefits of Sharing Your Bed With Your Baby’ by Deborah Jackson
“Until relatively recently, babies weren't sent off to sleep alone in their cribs where they often cry themselves to sleep--only to wake, needing to be fed or comforted until they can fall asleep again. This book offers an alternative: taking your baby to bed with you. Drawing on up-to-date and startling new evidence, the author shows how babies who sleep with their parents benefit by getting virtually a full night's sleep. Three in a Bed also includes a fully revised chapter based on new research on the SIDS debate and includes practical information on safety in the bed, how to sustain your sex life, and how to deal with the moment when the baby leaves his parents' bed. The approached advocated in this book can change the life of any parent struggling with getting their baby to sleep through the night”(Source).
Books – gentle sleep solutions
Sleeping Like a Baby: Simple sleep solutions for infants and toddlers by Pinky McKay
Pinky, who is based in Melbourne, is also the author of the acclaimed '100 Ways to Calm the Crying' and 'Parenting by Heart'
The No Cry Sleep Solution & The No Cry Sleep Solution for toddlers and Preschoolers by Elizabeth Pantley
The No Cry Sleep Solution is an excellent guide on practical alternatives to the harmful practice of controlled comforting/crying, which is often the only option given in many parenting books. It provides tips on gentle ways to adjust your child’s sleeping patterns that are applied over time – there are no quick fixes.
It can be used by parents who co-sleep or cot sleep and it has great ideas for those who breastfeed to sleep.
Support & Products
See the Natural Parenting Directory (on the left hand side of this website) for parenting support groups - both
in-real-life and online. Here you will find people with years of experience co-sleeping, who are willing to share their ideas and provide support.
The Natural Parenting Directory also lists products that can assist with your co-sleeping set up.