Co-sleeping with parents helps a little one feel comfortable and protected, but sooner or later, all parents think about how to teach their child to sleep in their own bed.
Although co-sleeping promotes the development of trusting relationships between the mother and her little one, it is not advisable to prolong it too much: some psychologists note that children who sleep with their parents may grow up with complexes.
We will try to help you find a middle ground, at what age the baby should be moved to a separate bed.
Until what age can a child sleep with parents?
What should you choose: co-sleeping or separate sleeping with the child?
In favor of the first option is that the baby feels safe and parents do not need to get up at night and go to the nursery if the little one needs something.
In turn, children who sleep separately become more independent quickly, and parents no longer need to tiptoe around their own bedroom.
We have prepared a small cheat sheet for you that will help you navigate until what age you can sleep with your child.
- For the first six months after birth, a baby literally needs their mother around the clock, so co-sleeping is more beneficial for them during this time. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t try separate sleeping arrangements. You can base your decision on your baby’s needs: if they sleep well and calmly in their crib, you can start training them for separate sleeping from the first months of life.
- From six months to one and a half years old, your child enters another phase in their life: the little person starts to actively explore the world around them, including doing so at night. At this age, children’s imagination is actively developing, so even if you previously slept separately, everything can change dramatically now. If you notice that your little one is sleeping more restlessly or frequently waking up at night because they are scared, it would be better to move them to your bed.
- From one and a half to 2.5 years old is the age when children may experience fear of loneliness or darkness. In this case, make concessions and allow your child to be next to you until they overcome their fears.
- From 2.5 to 3 years old, children become more independent and less dependent on adults. This is an optimal period to gradually train your little angel to rest alone.
Of course, all children are different, and when considering whether to co-sleep or have separate sleeping arrangements with your child, you should take into account not only their age but also the peculiarities of their character.
How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents
If your little one is over 4 years old and still can’t sleep separately, it may be a sign of the following problems:
- Your child may be afraid of the dark or jealous of a younger sibling.
- Your child may have physical or mental development problems.
- Family problems such as frequent conflicts, arguments, or violence can also lead to a child seeking refuge in your bed.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to situations where a young family is considering how to teach their 1-year-old to sleep separately. It’s too early to worry about this at such a young age!
Even older children who have slept in the same bed as their mother for a long time may be fussy and cry when they move to their own bed.
Usually, babies perceive the adult bed as their own and don’t understand why they have to say goodbye to their familiar atmosphere.
If you’ve decided that it’s time for your child to sleep independently, take it gradually.
Parents of older and more independent children can use the following tips to teach their child to sleep separately:
- Put a crib with lowered sides next to your bed
Choose a mattress height that creates a seamless sleeping surface. This way, your little one will be close to you, yet sleeping separately.
- Allocate a separate place for your little one
After you feed and put your little sunshine to bed, set a physical boundary using a roll or crib bumper. This will help your little one understand that they need to be without mom.
- Dress your little human in comfortable clothes
Ideally, these should be clothes made of natural fabrics that won’t restrict movement and will allow your little one to adapt to the new conditions more easily.
- Avoid making noise in the evening
After your little one falls asleep, try not to make noise or irritate them with bright lights. Try to create the most favorable conditions for rest.
- Feed your little sunshine as soon as they wake up for feeding
If it’s not yet time to feed, try to calm your little one down using other methods.
Now you know how to teach your child to sleep in their own bed.
We wish you an easy adaptation to this new stage of life!
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