The Japanese sleep with children in the same bed: how it affects parenting
'03.03.2021'
Source: Fabiosa
Everyone knows the common expression that raising a child begins with diapers. In Japan, it becomes illustrative when children sleep with their parents from birth.
This may continue until adolescence, tells Fabiosa. If there are several children in a family, then they can stack their topper mattresses very tightly. For each there is a place on the floor and in the soul of the mother.
Traditions and arguments
One would assume that Japanese families are forced to do so, saving on children's rooms due to the limited territory of the island state. However, experts in local traditions and psychologists explain this in a different way, considering joint sleep to be an indispensable element in the education of a harmonious personality.
One of the arguments is that the constant close finding of parents next to the child provides him with a deep sleep. If the baby cried in a dream, then the mother can always hug or touch him to calm him down. The blanket slid down - mother will solve this problem. This is how children develop sensitivity and susceptibility to other people's problems.
The next argument is that children always feel connected with their parents, their support, and readiness to respond to the call. But this does not deprive them of their independence. Just the opposite - it helps them in making their decisions while maintaining the confidence that older and wise people will prompt and help if there is a need.
The practice of joint sleep explains the fact that children in Japanese families get used to sleep in noise, in an unfamiliar environment. It is fixed on the subconscious that they are safe, because parents are always there.
School years are wonderful, of course, but it’s stressful for children. Therefore, it is important for elementary school students to get enough sleep at night, to relax and calm down. As you guessed, this can only be achieved in a dream, next to the parents. So say Japanese mothers, psychologists and pediatricians.
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Perhaps this compensates for the lack of busy parents during the day, so at least feel them around at night?
At the same time, Japanese families do not indulge every whim of a child. There are specific rules of education, which adhere to. And cribs, as well as rooms, exist in Japanese homes, but are used exclusively for daytime sleep.
European approaches
For European families, this approach is incomprehensible. In our area, parents sleep separately from their children. And not only in separate beds, but also rooms, if living conditions allow. It is believed that everyone should have their own personal space to relax.
If it is a newborn, then the first time they put the baby’s bed next to the parent’s bed in order to hear the crying and soothe, feed.
They also take themselves to bed, but most often this is caused by the desire of adults not to get out of bed if the baby wakes up often. Unfortunately, there is always the danger that adults can fall asleep and hurt the crumbs.
When children grow up, they can sleep on their own in their beds and rooms. If in the middle of the night something frightens or saddens them, they can always come to the parent’s bedroom.
