The following article is by Meggan Hartman, a sleep consultant here in Asheville. She has regular sleep workshops at The Tree House! Check out her website: megganhartman.com for upcoming events...

 *Where Will the Baby Sleep?*
 
  In the United States the rate of co-sleeping has nearly doubled from 5.5%
  to 12.5% with up to 70% of Americans reporting that they have co-sleep at
  least 1 night within the first 3 years of a child’s life.  More and more
  infant sleep specialist are starting to see the merits of co-sleeping.
  Sleep experts such as Richard Ferber and Dr Spock have reversed their long
  held stance on co-sleeping. In a statement released in 2006, Ferber stated
  that co-sleeping “can be suitable for some families” given that parents
  follow safe co-sleeping guidelines.  As more and more people co-sleep it
  has sparked dialog and research about the best place for your baby to
  sleep.
 
  One of the most recurring questions I get from parents is whether they
  should co-sleep, room share, or sleep separate from their baby.  My answer
  is: there is no one answer; there are numerous factors that each family
  should consider.  Deciding your child’s sleep location varies by family and
  culture.
 
  The debate begins with the benefits of co-sleeping.  Research shows that
  when a mom and baby sleep close together there is a natural increase in
  breast feeding frequency.  This frequency can also help augment milk
  production.  Then there is the perk of easy breastfeeding; the mom can stay
  in bed, roll over, and sideline nurse.  Resent research has shown the
  possibility of lowing the SIDS risk.   The sleep/wake cycle of mother and
  baby and the mother being present in the event of a sleep problem are the
  factors contributing to lowering the SIDS risk.  Finally there is some
  evidence of children being more confident socially and more responsive to
  parents when they have co-slept with parents as babies.
 
  The primary argument against co-sleeping is safety.  There is concern that
  the baby will be suffocated by blankets or parents rolling over and
  smothering the infant.   The co-sleeping community has published safe
  sleeping guidelines to help prevent any such accident, but even the leading
  co-sleeper advocate McKenna states that if you can not follow the
  guidelines then having the baby sleep on their own surface is preferred.
 
  On the contrary, sleep experts have described sleep problems that are
  associated with co-sleeping.  These problems include persistent night
  and an excessive dependency on parental assistance for going to
  sleep and staying asleep.  These perpetual wakings can cause sleep
  deprivation.  This lack of sleep has been shown to contribute to the onset
  of Postpartum Depression and/or Anxiety.   Sleep deprivation can have an
  adverse affect on  spousal/partner relationship.  Additionally, when
  parents are sleep deprived their ability to read their baby’s cues and to
  respond to their baby with love and care is compromised.  Research shows
  that when we respond to our baby’s crying with anger or anxiety, a baby
  develops attachment insecurity.   When babies do not get enough sleep there
  is significant research that the development of the hypothalamus is
  compromised thus impacting and child’s ability to regulate emotions.
  Finally there have been studies that indicated that babies who sleep
  solitary have a greater ability to self sooth and have greater resiliency.
 
  The middle of the road approach, room sharing is now being touted as the
  preferred way to sleep by the American Pediatric Association.  There is
  evidence showing that room sharing decreases the risk of SIDS and limited
  evidence indicates that sleeping in close proximity to parents helps
  facilitate the development of circadian rhythms (babies knowing day from
  night).  Room sharing can also help parents who, for safety reasons, are
  scared to co-sleep with their baby but do not want to sleep away from their
  baby.  With all that room sharing can offer, there are those babies who
  make a lot of noises at night.  Although these noises are a part of the
  baby’s sleep, it keeps parents awake.
 
  For me it comes down to what is going to work the best for the whole
  family.  For some families the joys of sharing the family bed are
  tremendous and for others it can cause suffering.  A study conducted by
  Kathleen Dyer Ramos showed that two happiest parenting groups where the
  parents who either were committed co-sleepers or committed solitary
  sleepers.  The group that had the most frustration and conflict were the
 “reactive co-sleeper” - the ones who perceived their children’s night
  wakings as most problematic and would bring the child into bed to try to
  solve the problem.
 
  I urge parents to listen to and follow what is best for their family.  If
  you were committed to having your baby sleep solitary and you find that you
  are really sad about not having that extra snuggle time or having
  difficulty breast feeding at night, co-sleeping might be an answer.  If you
  are struggling with sleep issues and it is compromising your ability to
  function during the day or your mental health, then having your baby sleep
  solitary might be an answer.  Having a hybrid approach where you co-sleep
  or room share for the first couple months then move baby into their own
  room is fine as well.
 
  If you do chose to co-sleep with your child here is a link to learn how to
  sleep safely: http://cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/<http://megganhartman.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=cba1cb68f5d9d73280a69701a&id=f97bb4f6d1&e=379eeef975>
 
  If you chose to have your child sleep on their own surface either in their
  own room or room sharing, here is AAP current guidelines:
 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/10/12/peds.2011-2284<http://megganhartman.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cba1cb68f5d9d73280a69701a&id=2c59db5d73&e=379eeef975>
 
  The training that I have received is in The Millette Method.  The Millette
  Method is a multi-disiplainary approach that helps solves sleep issues that
  can arise when moving your baby to their own room or help the co-sleeping
  family sleep better at night.  It uses a variety of gentle methods that
  takes into account baby temperment, family values, attachment, and parental
  overwhelm.   If you are needing some help or support through the process,
  then call me to schedule a consultation.  Meggan Hartman is the only person
  trained in the Millette Method on the East Coast