Let's face it - many parents sleep in the same bed as their children, whether they are younger or older. And even though we know that this is not always good, it is difficult to resist the urge to sleep together.
A habit, however, that over time can become everyday. And as a child gets older, he or she may become accustomed to the problem.
Lynelle Schneeberg, Psy.D., director of behavioral program at Connecticut Medical Center, told Parents.com that if parents want to help their children gain self-confidence, sleeping in different beds is more important than any. positive effect of sleep on the same bed.
"Sharing a bed can be problematic for a variety of reasons," he said.
As he explains, children can develop a "button" for sleep. Always having a parent around you at bedtime can be a powerful combination of "starting sleep", also called "sleep button" or "sleep support", which children need to fall asleep.
They may even show restless behavior.
"In families who share the same bed, parents and older children end up going to bed much earlier than they want, based on when the children need it," explains Dr. Scheeberg.
The quality of sleep can be disturbed for the parent himself. "As children are anxious and constantly spinning, they can disturb their parents' sleep with kicks or strokes," says Dr. Schneedberg.
Relationships between spouses may also be disrupted. For many couples with children, evenings are the only time they can be together. Sleeping with the child leaves little time or space for intimacy. And if the habit is daily, then couples are in danger of moving away.