Co-Sleeping: for whom a family bed is suitable and what you should consider

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Own cot or the big family bed. After the first weeks and months after the birth, more and more families are facing the big question: How are the sleeping situation going?

Today you know -or better, you admit babies and toddlers -being alone is the worst of what you can experience in your first days of life and months. And that is exactly why more and more parents opt for the family bed and against their own cot.

So the family bed becomes a safe place to sleep for everyone

At the top of the list for the ideal family bed is of course the security for the baby or an older child. And this is not just about protection against falling out. Mattress, bed sheet or pillow can also be dangerous for babies. So what should the family bed look like?

1. The mattress for the family bed should meet certain standards. If, for example, the baby is in the middle between mom and dad, it is important that there is no gap. So better not two mattresses for the family bed, but a big continuous. A topper can also cover an existing gap well. In addition, the mattress should not be too soft and large enough so that everyone has enough space and freedom of movement.

2. The bed sheet should be as tight as possible so that the child's arms and legs cannot get caught in it.

3. Depending on where the bed is in the bedroom, care should be taken to ensure that there are no gaps into which the child could slip. So if the bed is on the wall, any spaces should be stuffed. For example, a flexible bed grille, as is often used in larger children as protection from falling out, can create a gap between bed frame and mattress. This supposedly small gap can be dangerous for the baby. Even the distance of the sprouts of such a grid should not be too big so that the baby does not catch itself.

4. Especially when the baby is still small, there should be no pillows nearby. There is always a risk that there is one and the face and thus hides the respiratory tract. The Greifreflex makes it possible. The same applies to blankets. Babies sleep best in a children's sleeping bag for the first few months (You can find a year-round baby sleeping bag here on Amazon, for example)*.

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Sleep well in the family bed

A family bed is not suitable for everyone and family. Especially at the beginning and with a little baby, it is quite important that mom or dad do not sleep too firmly in order to be able to react quickly to the needs of the child. However, it is of great disadvantage to have a slight sleep when a fidgety two- or three-year-old child is next to you at night.

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Babies in particular often find it difficult to sleep. In the beginning, this is because you first have to learn a day-night rhythm. After that, it is rather external factors that can disturb the sleep of the youngest family members. So parents should make sure that the family bed is as fragrance as possible, because babies have a very fine sense of smell. This applies to the detergent, but also to creams, lotions and perfumes by mom and dad. The more natural the smell of the parents and the surrounding area, the more likely it promotes the parent-child bond, because babies recognize mom and dad at the beginning of the smell.

A good bond with the parents gives the child security and security. And if you feel in good hands, you can also sleep more easily and later.

The temperature in the bedroom is also important for a good sleep. The more people share the family bed, the faster it gets warm. Make sure that it is not too warm in the bedroom and not too cold. 18 degrees Celsius are ideal. With the help of seasonal baby sleeping bags, the little ones don't sweat in summer and do not freeze in winter.

By the way: pets like dogs or cats do not belong in the family bed. And you should also do without alcohol and cigarettes if you share the bed with children.

What speaks against a family bed?

Co-Sleeping should give the child security and security. However, the latter is at risk if, for example, there is a strong difference between weight between the parents. If one of the parents is much harder than the other and the baby is next to him, there is a risk that the child rolls over and can no longer free himself from this situation. In such a case, it is safer for the child to sleep in a side bed right next to the parents' bed.

You should also do without the family bed if a parent or even both cannot sleep well if the child is in the family bed. And regardless of the age of the child. Anyone who lies wake up more often than sleeps should consider whether it is not more pleasant for everyone to get the child used to their own bed. If it is the movements of the offspring that keep tearing you out of sleep, then your own bed next to the parents' bed may already be enough.

However, if it is the child's noises that wake you up again and again at night, then you should actually think about your own room. Because in the end it counts that everyone can sleep well. Rested parents are much more relaxed and more stress -resistant than always tired.

How long can children sleep in the family bed?

There is no fixed age when parents should throw their child or children out of the family bed. As a rule, this results from itself. If the children are six, seven or eight years old and are becoming more and more independent, they also ask for their own bed or room. As long as all family members feel comfortable to sleep in a bed, parents and children can share the bed for as long.

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Buy a family bed or build yourself?

Crucial for whether you buy a family bed or build yourself is the space you need to sleep. While a few couples and offspring don't mind share a 1.40 m mattress, others do not really calm down with a 1.80 m mattress.

In the meantime, however, retail has adapted to families. Today it is no longer a problem to buy a family bed in the dimensions 280 x 200 meters. However, such a bed construction also costs a little more.

So if you want to save money and still don't want to do without the family bed, you build yourself. The simplest variant can be built from pallets and mattresses. If you like to sleep a few more centimeters above the floor, you shouldn't be very clumsy when dealing with tools. But here too there are lots of ideas, instructions and tips on the Internet.

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Important note at the end: The information and tips in this article are only suggestions. Every child is different and reacts in its own way. It is therefore important that you go into your child and find out which way is the best for you.