It never fails. Just as you're drifting off to sleep, a little hand taps you on the shoulder. If you share your bed with a child at night, be sure you do so safely. Supporters of co-sleeping also called the family bed say that it offers busy families a time to bond at night, and that it may even have medical benefits. Detractors insist that three or more in the master bed is a crowd, and may even be dangerous.
Some pediatricians say it's really a personal decision.
Wherever all members of the family get the best night's sleep is the right arrangement for your family. And that may change at different stages of a child's development. If you do choose to sleep with your child, it's important to do it safely, especially if he's an infant. Use a firm mattress - Sleep on a firm mattress, not a soft surface such as a waterbed. Beware of room hazards - Beware of crevices between the mattress and the wall that could trap a child.