Colecho is the practice of parents sleeping in close proximity to their baby or child, either in the same bed or in the same room. It is a common practice in many cultures where parents and children share the same sleeping space for all or part of the night.

The word "bed-sharing" has become one of the most frequent terms when talking about raising babies. However, it is still an unknown term for many parents despite the benefits shown by its use.

What is bed-sharing?

Bed-sharing refers to the act of sleeping with your children. In a broad sense, bed-sharing includes the possibility of sleeping in a bed or crib attached to the parents' bed. Natural parenting promotes the advantages of this type of practice over a more traditional view that separates children to their own sleeping space or even their own room.

What are the benefits of bed-sharing?

The baby's sleep pattern will be more regular. The child feels less unprotected than when sleeping alone, knows that their parents are there so they feel less need to cry and will sleep more, thus promoting good sleep habits. Sleep enhances the child's brain development, increasing their mental capacities.

Temperature regulation is better. Not only does sleeping together calm the child, but it also helps them find the necessary warmth for their rest. The body temperature emanating from the parents has been shown to be beneficial in premature babies; kangaroo care, skin-to-skin contact, helps them gain more weight, have a more stable heart rate, and better health. Following the same method to ensure their development during rest is a logical conclusion in bed-sharing.

Babies who bed-share eat more. Especially in cases where natural breastfeeding is followed. Children will breastfeed for longer periods. The ease of feeding, derived from proximity, will make this act more frequent.

Better rest for parents and promotion of the parent-child bond. Parents will be able to rest better with the peace of mind of the child's proximity. Furthermore, it has been shown that the emotional bond that may not be established during the day due to parents' work commitments is strengthened.

Bed-sharing as natural as breathing. In countries like Japan where bed-sharing is the norm and not the exception, the infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. The lesson on "how to breathe" during sleep comes naturally to them as they synchronize with the mother.

However, despite all these arguments, there are still detractors of this method. The fear of accidentally crushing the child during sleep continues to weigh on hesitant parents. In this regard, there are guidelines that make a lot of sense; the method is not recommended when parents are not in a condition to sleep with their children, either because they have consumed alcohol, are too tired, obese, or the bed is not suitable for the child's rest.