Sleep is an essential need for all babies. Your baby will only develop properly if they get adequate sleep day and night. And sometimes, they get so fussy when you try to make them sleep on their own but become calm if you decide to hold them close or allow them to sleep with you. So why do babies sleep better with moms?
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It may seem like a mystery why that happens. If you are one of those that have been asking, “why do babies sleep better with mom?” then read on as this blog post enlightens you with 7 reasons why your baby sleeps better with mummy and also examines how safe it is to allow your baby sleep close to you.
- 7 Reasons why Babies sleep better with their moms
- I love co-sleeping with my baby. Is it safe?
- Conclusion
7 Reasons why Babies sleep better with their moms
1. Bonding
The bond between babies and their mothers is so essential that it helps to keep them psychologically and emotionally stable. It also promotes sound and quality sleep. Babies who have developed strong bonds with their moms are not restless during sleep.
They are also able to sleep for extended periods. Babies bond better and faster when they sleep with their moms. Your baby gets emotionally attached to you, which makes them sleep better when they do so on your bed or in your arms.
2. Mom’s Natural Smell
Have you ever wondered why your baby calms down and becomes more cheerful when holding them? It is because they know you are the one holding them! Babies are used to the natural smell of their mom’s skin and clothing.
Your baby will always feel relaxed and sleep better and longer when they perceive your natural smell around them. They know “mummy’s around, so there is nothing to worry about.”
3. Night Feeding
Suckling babies will cry when it’s time to feed at night. If you have to walk to the other room to breastfeed your baby at night, chances are that it will take some time before your baby can fall soundly asleep again. Being able to snug up to you and latch on your breasts enables them to feed appropriately without so much disruption to their sleep. That makes falling back asleep almost seamless.
4. Warmth and comfort
Your baby loves to feel the warmth that your body generates. They were already used to that all the while they were in the womb. They feel comfortable in a warm and cozy environment.
Their body systems are also well regulated when they feel the warmth that emanates from them, especially during sleep. When surrounded by this warmth and comfort, your baby finds it easy to sleep off.
5. Familiar Environment
Babies feel more comfortable and sleep better in environments they are familiar with. They tend to be cranky when the environment seems unfamiliar.
Since your baby is used to being around you, they will not have problems falling asleep because they are used to your arms and bed. They quickly relax and doze off because they know they are with you.
6. Easy Soothing
Babies get more easily soothed by their mothers. No matter how upset and fuzzy your baby is, they know when you hold them, and they are much more willing to be pacified by you than by someone else.
That may be due to instincts. When they sleep, and something makes them uncomfortable, they quickly get over it and fall back asleep once they are held and soothed by their mothers.
7. Close Monitoring
Babies sleep patterns are better monitored when they sleep with their mothers. Your baby’s sleep might be interrupted at any time by hunger or soiled nappies.
When they sleep close to you, you can attend to their needs on time so that they can continue with their sleep. That ensures that the overall quality of your baby’s night sleep is not shortened. Your baby is still able to get adequate rest and wakes up happier.
I love co-sleeping with my baby. Is it safe?
For those wanting to know why babies sleep better with mom? co-sleeping with your baby has several benefits, like monitoring and attending to their needs at night, bonding, and enabling them to enjoy your warmth.
You should be very cautious of your baby’s safety when they sleep with you on the same bed to avoid the risk of you rolling over them at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that co-sleeping with babies increases the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Conclusion
Now you have answers to the question – “Why do babies sleep better with mom?” You now understand how it contributes to the healthy development of your baby. You also now know how important it is to strike a balance between allowing your baby to enjoy your company while asleep and ensuring their safety by reducing any risk associated with babies’ sleep time.
FAQs
Your baby feels more secure with you by their side, and this is how nature intended it to be. If they wake up, they are comforted by your touch and your scent, and they may not need to fully wake or cry before settling back to sleep by themselves.
Why do babies settle better with their mother? ›
Moms Are Like Xanax for Infants
They also stop moving, researchers found, indicating a calming effect. To scientists, this says that a baby's proprioception—or sense of body proximity—is tied to its mother, which is why a crying, finicky baby will often move about.
Why does my baby sleep better with me? ›
They can hear their caregiver's heartbeat and feel their warmth, which can remind them of the closeness they felt in the womb. This proximity can also provide a sense of safety for babies, making them feel more secure and relaxed, leading to better sleep.
Why do babies only want to sleep with mom? ›
Research shows that in the early weeks and months, babies are often more drawn to maternal smells– like the smell of amniotic fluid, breastmilk, etc.. Additionally, because many mothers are the primary caregiver in the first few months, their faces and voices become more familiar to their babies.
Are babies who co-sleep happier? ›
Less stress
While co-sleeping is known to reduce a baby's stress, it depends on the level. One study that asked parents about this subject found that children who had experienced one of two co-sleeping arrangements had lower anxiety levels at preschool age compared with those who had co-slept for less than six months.
Why do babies sleep better in mom's arms? ›
Being snuggled in your arms is much more like being nestled in your belly than sleeping alone in a crib or bassinet, so it makes perfect sense why a baby might resist any efforts that take them away from your comfy arms and into an unfamiliar place.
Why are babies calm with mom? ›
“The infant calming response to maternal carrying is a coordinated set of central, motor, and cardiac regulations,” according to the authors of a 2013 study in Current Biology, who observed human and mouse mothers trying to soothe their fussy newborns.
Do babies really feel what the mother feels? ›
Studies have shown that infants as young as one month-old sense when a parent is depressed or angry and are affected by the parent's mood. Understanding that even infants are affected by adult emotions can help parents do their best in supporting their child's healthy development.
Do babies love their mom right away? ›
At around 6 weeks, though, babies start to respond to their environment, and at 2 to 3 months, their brain is developed enough that they can look right at you when they smile, letting you know that you're the reason they're so happy, Dr. Messinger says.
Why do babies sleep so well in parents bed? ›
Children might be motivated to sleep with adults because of separation anxiety or a sense of unavailability from their caregivers, especially in times of vulnerability (such as during the night). The same attachment drive might motivate some parents to share close proximity to their child at night.
These findings suggest that bedsharing infants have more, but briefer, awakenings and spend less time in deep stages of sleep, thus making it less likely that infants will enter a deep sleep from which they cannot emerge when faced with a life-threatening event.
Why babies should sleep next to their mothers? ›
Myths About Co-Sleeping
(This is your happy medium!) In fact, the latest AAP recommendations encourage parents to room-share with baby for at least the first six months, and ideally a year, since having baby nearby actually lowers the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.
Why do babies sleep better with their mum? ›
Overall, babies simply find it easier to fall and stay asleep next to mom than they do dad. Mothers are also the source of breastfeeding which makes it much more natural to continue the night when milk is available.
Does my baby know I'm his mom? ›
During the first few months of their lives, babies are paying attention to the faces around them. “They will start to recognize their parents' faces, along with other caregivers' faces, plus people who are familiar,” says Dr. Hoang.
Why do babies prefer mom at night? ›
This doesn't mean they love this parent more, but it means that their brain is used to spending time with them and is craving the routine and comfort they've become accustomed to during the day. Alternatively, the preferred parent might be the one who isn't home with them during the day.
Why do babies sleep better with dad? ›
By actively participating in sleeping routines and comforting their little ones, dads can build a strong bond with their babies and support their overall development. Research shows that infants with involved fathers tend to have better sleep patterns and overall sleep quality.
Why are babies closer to their mothers? ›
Children usually gravitate more towards their mothers during their first two years of life. Why wouldn't they, given mothers have provided their first homes? And whether or not a mother breastfeeds, the bond between baby and mother is stronger because a baby associate its mother with food and survival.
How long should babies sleep with their mother? ›
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should sleep in their parents' room—but not in the same bed—for at least the first six months of life, ideally for the whole year, to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 50 percent.
