Should You Co-Sleep in 2025? Pros and Cons

By Amelia Rowe, Senior Parenting Editor | Home & Care Column | Childcare Standards Council In the ever evolving landscape of parenting, co sleeping remains one of the most talked about, and often polarising, topics. For some families, sharing a bed with their baby feels instinctively right. For others, it raises concerns around safety, boundaries, and sleep quality.

As we look towards 2025, with new research, shifting cultural norms, and more nuanced conversations about attachment and independence, it's worth revisiting the question: Should you co sleep in 2025?

Let’s explore the pros and cons of co sleeping so you can make an informed, confident decision that suits your family’s unique needs.

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What Is Co Sleeping?

Co sleeping is broadly defined as a child sleeping in close proximity to a parent or caregiver. This can take several forms:

• Bed sharing: the baby sleeps in the same bed as one or both parents.

• Room sharing: the baby sleeps in a cot or crib within the same room as the parents.

• Sidecar arrangements: the baby’s sleep surface is attached to the parent’s bed, providing closeness with separate space.

It's important to note that not all co sleeping involves bed sharing, and safety recommendations differ depending on the method used.

The Pros of Co Sleeping

1. Enhanced Bonding and Attachment

Many parents report feeling more connected to their child when co sleeping. Being near each other throughout the night fosters a sense of security and strengthens emotional bonds. In particular, during the early weeks and months, this proximity can promote breastfeeding and skin to skin contact, both of which support healthy development.

2. Easier Night Feeds

For breastfeeding mothers, co sleeping, especially bed sharing, can make night feeds significantly more manageable. Rather than fully waking and leaving the bed, feeding can happen in a more relaxed, half asleep state. This convenience can be a lifeline in the exhausting early months of parenthood.

3. Improved Sleep for Baby (and Sometimes Parents)

Babies may sleep more soundly when they sense a caregiver nearby. Being close to parents can help regulate the baby’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. Some parents also find they sleep better knowing their child is right beside them, safe and comforted.

4. Emotional Reassurance

For babies and toddlers going through developmental leaps or separation anxiety, co sleeping can offer soothing reassurance. It may help reduce bedtime battles and middle of the night tears, especially during transitions such as moving house, starting nursery, or welcoming a new sibling.

The Cons of Co Sleeping

1. Safety Concerns

The most significant concern surrounding co sleeping, particularly bed sharing, is safety. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been associated with unsafe co sleeping environments. Soft mattresses, heavy duvets, parental exhaustion, or substance use can all increase the risk. That said, many paediatric associations now acknowledge that co sleeping can be made safer with proper guidance, rather than being dismissed entirely.

2. Sleep Disruption for Parents

While some families report improved sleep, others find their rest disrupted by their child’s movements, noises, or frequent waking. A baby tossing and turning at 3 am can make it difficult for parents to reach deep, restorative sleep, especially over time.

3. Challenges with Sleep Independence

Critics of co sleeping argue that prolonged bed sharing may delay a child’s ability to sleep independently. While some children naturally transition to their own beds over time, others may resist the change, leading to longer term sleep issues or bedtime power struggles.

4. Intimacy and Personal Space

Sharing a bed with a child can take a toll on the couple’s relationship, particularly if one or both parents value nighttime privacy or intimacy. The physical and emotional demands of co sleeping can leave some parents feeling touched out or disconnected from their partner.

Co Sleeping Safely in 2025: What’s Changed?

By 2025, parenting resources and public health campaigns have become more balanced in their approach to co sleeping. Rather than issuing blanket warnings, experts now offer detailed guidance on how to reduce risks and make co sleeping as safe as possible.

Key safety guidelines include:

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep.

• Avoid co sleeping on sofas or armchairs, which are high risk.

• Use a firm mattress with no pillows, toys, or loose bedding near the baby.

• Ensure the baby cannot fall out of bed or become trapped between bed and wall.

• Never co sleep if you or your partner has consumed alcohol, taken medication that causes drowsiness, or smoked.

The NHS, Lullaby Trust, and other parenting bodies now offer printable co sleeping checklists, empowering parents to make informed, realistic choices.

What Do Families Say?

Co sleeping in 2025 is less of a taboo topic than it once was. Online forums, parenting podcasts, and real world community groups increasingly share a variety of sleep setups without shame or judgement.

Parents speak of co sleeping as a phase, some brief, some extended, but one that worked for their family in a particular season. Others recall the relief of finally moving their baby into a separate sleep space and reclaiming their bed.

The diversity of stories points to one truth: there is no one size fits all solution.

Making the Right Choice for Your Family

Whether you choose to co sleep or not, what matters most is that your decision is rooted in safety, love, and respect, for your child and yourself.

Every family dynamic is different. If co sleeping helps your baby feel secure and allows you to rest, it can be a beautiful, bonding experience. If it causes stress or exhaustion, there are plenty of nurturing ways to foster connection and attachment outside of nighttime hours.

Trust your instincts, seek guidance from professionals, and remember that good parenting comes in many forms, even after dark.

Final Thoughts

As we navigate the parenting landscape in 2025, co sleeping remains both a practical consideration and an emotional one. Its success hinges on safety, communication, and flexibility. If done mindfully, it can be a treasured part of the early parenting journey.

After all, the best sleep setup is the one where everyone wakes up feeling rested, loved, and ready for a new day.