There is some disagreement among parents and parenting experts about where your baby should sleep, and to what age. Some folks believe that your baby should sleep in your room for as long as possible, even up to a couple years of age. Other folks believe that, as soon as your baby is a couple of months old, it’s fine to move her to her own room, as long as you have a baby monitor.
In some ways, the reasons to have baby sleep in your room are often simply a matter of convenience. Your baby needs to eat every couple of hours during those first few weeks of life, and even by the age of three months or so she’s going to want to eat every four hours or so. Nighttime feedings are more convenient when baby sleeps in your room. This is especially true if you’re breastfeeding, as your baby will probably need to be fed at least a little more frequently than if you’re bottle feeding.
For some babies, it helps to sleep in your room because it helps them to go back to sleep after they wake up. If your baby wakes up on his own – which is just something that babies do – he’ll have an easier time of it falling back asleep than what he would if he couldn’t see you.
Cosleeping is another option that some folks prefer. The American Pediatric Association recommends against cosleeping. They cite studies that suggest a link between cosleeping and SIDS, largely from the adult bedding materials that your baby will be using in your bed.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that your baby can’t fall asleep in bed with you there. After your baby falls asleep, however, you should consider moving your baby to her crib, whether or not it’s in your room. That’s really the safest place for baby to sleep.
Finally, having baby sleep in your room can be reassuring to you. If you wake up at night, it’s usually much easier to hear or see your baby in your room and know that he’s all right than it is to trust the baby monitor.