SHARING MASTER BEDROOM WITH BABY (2024)

FAQs

How long can a baby be in a master bedroom? ›

The AAP Guidelines On Sharing A Room With Your Baby

“Room share—keep baby's sleep area in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months or, ideally, for the first year.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends sharing a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months of their life to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, the AAP also published research that found that after 4 months, room sharing results in less nighttime sleep and more night wakings for infants.

Which age is optimal for transitioning a baby to their own room? Determining the “optimal age” depends on your primary goal. If you want to improve sleep and minimize the challenges that can come with moving an older baby or toddler to a new room, then we'd recommend transitioning between 6 - 9 months of age.

Goodstein said, when babies sleep in the same room as their parents, the background sounds or stirrings prevent very deep sleep and that helps keeps the babies safe. Room sharing also makes breast-feeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.

Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.

Studies have shown that babies sleeping in their own room tend to wake up less and be less irritable throughout most nights. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that babies co-sleeping with one or more parents are more likely to desire feeding when they wake up in the middle of the night.

White noise may also block out excess stimulation and thus, reduce stress levels in babies. But older claims that white noise can reduce the risk of SIDS need more current research. White noise has the potential to damage a child's delicate hearing and auditory development if not used appropriately.

Sleep training and room sharing

Children may be able to hear, see, and even smell their parents in the same bedroom. This can turn a brief night waking into a full awakening when the child senses their caregiver and wants their help falling back to sleep.

In a perfect situation, each family member would have their own bedroom, and you wouldn't need any children sharing their space. If you're a family of four, you may want to start with a baseline of three bedrooms, giving each child space for privacy and future growth.

When should I move my baby to his own bedroom? ›

The AAP recommends room-sharing until at least 6 months, ideally 12 months. That said, some families find it better to move their baby sooner, around 4-months.

The AAP does not recommend bed sharing for at least the first year – this applies to babies sleeping with parents and/or siblings (even multiples). For the first year, your baby should have his or her own separate sleep space.

For the first 6 months your baby should be in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Particularly in the early weeks, you may find your baby only falls asleep in your or your partner's arms, or when you're standing by the cot.

Try It for a Year

Living in a one-bedroom apartment with a baby doesn't have to be forever! Nursing mothers or parents with a fitful sleeper will likely find sharing a bedroom with their baby is easier in the beginning anyway. If you're renting, give yourself a year and then re-evaluate.

There's no clear cut answer, but from my experience, I recommend moving your baby into their own room when they're around 6 to 7 months old. After 7 months, babies become so much more tuned into the particulars of their surroundings and may have a harder time adjusting to the change of environment.

When to stop using the bassinet & when to move baby to the crib. Most babies should transition from the bassinet by 4 - 6 months of age due to safety and comfort factors. Check out the height, weight, and other safety recommendations from your specific bassinet manufacturer.