Hi everyone,
I am a first-time mother and have been co-sleeping with my newborn since she was born. While I enjoy having her close by and the ease of breastfeeding throughout the night, I am concerned about how co-sleeping may impact our attachment as a parent-child duo. I have heard conflicting opinions on whether co-sleeping can have a positive or negative effect on attachment and bonding. So, I am looking for some advice from other parents who may have experience with co-sleeping and promoting healthy attachment. How can I ensure that co-sleeping does not hinder our bond, and what are some strategies I can use to strengthen it while co-sleeping? Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide!

Hello! I'm a mom who co-slept with my first child, but not my second, and I've found that there was a difference in our attachment and bonding, but not because of co-sleeping.
With my first child, I co-slept with her out of necessity, as she was a very fussy and colicky baby who needed a lot of comforting throughout the night. I found that co-sleeping did help us bond, but I also felt like I became too reliant on it to soothe her. It was hard to break the habit of co-sleeping when she got older, and I felt like it hindered her ability to sleep independently.
With my second child, I didn't co-sleep because I wanted to try to establish good sleep habits from the beginning. It was challenging at first, but I found that we were still able to form a strong bond through other forms of interaction and engagement, like cuddling, reading books, and talking to each other.
Ultimately, I think that co-sleeping can be a useful tool in promoting attachment and bonding, but it's not the only way to do so. What matters most is being responsive to your baby's needs and making time to connect with them in meaningful ways throughout the day.