Is it true that sleep-sharing helps train babies to sleep through the night?

Q: Is it true that sleep-sharing helps train babies to sleep through the night?

A: Studies suggest that, on average, babies who sleep with their parents may wake up briefly more often than babies who sleep in another room. However, babies who sleep-share stay awake for shorter periods once they wake up and go back to sleep sooner than babies who do not.

Sleep-sharing alone will not guarantee that your baby will start sleeping through the night. There are many other factors that may influence when and why an infant stops waking in the night (feeding, comforting the baby, etc.).

How well the parents choose to meet these needs also counts. In general, sleep experts conclude that babies develop normally and learn all the same skills—including the ability to self-soothe—whether they sleep share or not. They just do so at their own individual pace.

Sources:

• Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and
• Preschooler by Ann Douglas
• James McKenna, sleep expert
• Mary O’Malley, sleep consultant
• Deborah Lin-Dyken, pediatric sleep disorders expert
• Jodi Mindell, pediatric sleep expert
• Jan Barger, lactation consultant
• Deborah Lin-Dyken, pediatric sleep disorders

Photo from sxc.hu