Helpful Tips for Co-Sleeping With Your Toddler

Co-sleeping is a controversial subject. Some families swear it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Others think it’s the worst idea they’ve ever heard. The reality is that all families are different. While one family flourishes with co-sleeping, others may not. You can try the following helpful tips for co-sleeping with your toddler if you’re interested in this sleeping option.

Don’t Co-Sleep With Babies

The most important part of co-sleeping is understanding how to do so safely. Most experts don’t recommend co-sleeping with children under the age of one. Young babies are still learning physical movements and can’t free themselves from tight bedding or heavy adult limbs. If you read psychology books when expecting, then you may already know some of these expert opinions. If not, it’s never too late to learn about child and parent development, including the pros and cons of co-sleeping.

Invest in the Right Bed

Knowing what mattress size best fits your needs is difficult, but co-sleepers should expect to need a bigger bed. King size is ideal for two adults with a small child since it gives everyone enough space to move. However, when shopping for that king-sized mattress, skip the pillowtop option. Young children, even toddlers, can suffocate from this extra soft mattress option. Choose a firmer king mattress instead and limit the number of pillows and blankets on your bed for good measure.

Prepare for Curiosity

Kids are naturally curious, and given the opportunity to explore the house without you, they’ll probably take it. Child-proofing your bed and your bedroom as a whole is necessary. For example, add safety rails on the sides of your bed, outlet covers on electrical outlets, and a baby gate at the top of any stairs. This keeps your child from leaving the bed unsupervised and getting hurt in your room or somewhere else in your home.

Let Your Toddler Lead With Co-Sleeping

Our children thrive when we give them the opportunity to make choices. Co-sleeping is one of these safe opportunities. Lay out the options, such as co-sleeping in your bed, sleeping in a separate bed in your room, or sleeping in their own bed in their own room. Explain the pros and cons of each option at an age-appropriate level. Allow them to experiment with different sleeping arrangements until they find one that works for them. This allows them to learn how to make important decisions and takes some of the pressure off of you.

Co-sleeping with your toddler isn’t for everyone, but these helpful tips can contribute to co-sleeping success. Remember that co-sleeping can change with new life circumstances and age. Try to let your child lead co-sleeping choices so that they always feel safe and heard.

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