As a pet owner who cherishes their animal companion, why do you need a separate bed when you can share your own with your furry companion? While medical professionals previously advised sharing beds with pets, whether to co-sleep with your pets comes down to personal preference. While some people like co-sleeping with their pets, such arrangements may not be suitable for some pets or people. If you are wondering whether to sleep with your pets in the same room, here are some pros, cons, and tips for you.
Pros Of Co-Sleeping With Your Pets
Experts suggest that snuggling up in bed with your favorite pets has various benefits, such as:
Better Emotional Health
Research and subjective human experience suggest that having pets like dogs reduces anxiety and depression, thus improving one's mental health. Snuggling with your dog or cat promotes tranquility, eases tension, and makes you happy. According to the studies, many people with pets exhibit fewer depressive symptoms.
Comfort and Security
Pets, like dogs, offer both physical and emotional support to their owners. Dogs ensure the safety and protection of their owners by detecting, sounding an alarm, and even combating threats if necessary. Unique pets like PTSD service dogs are trained to identify physical signs of a nightmare and thus wake the person up to disrupt such uncomfortable experiences.
More Bonding Opportunities
What is the point of having a pet if you can't benefit from that close comfort? Co-sleeping with pets makes your bed more welcoming, thus reducing loneliness. Sleeping with your pets in the same bedroom is suitable for most people (especially introverts) who need companionship, security, relaxation, and peace at the end of a long day.
Cons of Co-Sleeping with Pets
While sleeping with pets in the same room has various benefits for the pet parents, it also comes with its fair share of risks. Here are some examples:
Increased Health Risks
Pets may aggravate allergies and spread diseases, which increase health risks. Pets can bring harmful disease-causing bacteria and parasites into your bed, increasing your chances of disease exposure. Therefore, immunocompromised people may be at greater risk of co-sleeping with their pets.
Decrease in Sleep Quality
Allowing pets in bed at night can change the quality of your sleep. Pets may snore or move frequently during the night, thus reducing the quality of your sleep. Also, if you like to stretch out in bed, there will be limited space for maneuvering since you're sharing the bed with your pet.
Tips for Sleeping with Your Pet
For those willing to have their pets in the bedroom at night, various tips can help boost the quality of their sleep and their relationship with their pets.
- Clean your bedding frequently. Hygiene is key to quality sleep and disease prevention. You should also follow the vet's routines for wiping and cleaning the pets if they spend most of their time outside the house.
- Ensure your pets are well vaccinated and maintain flea treatment to protect them from diseases and disease-causing germs.
- Create a bedtime routine to keep you and your pet on the same sleep-wake cycle and minimize nighttime disruptions.
Co-sleeping with your pet has various benefits and its fair share of challenges. However, if you choose to have your pets in the bedroom at night, ensure your bed is big enough for you and your pet. A good mattress is fundamental to having a comfortable night's sleep. Land of Sleep will help you get the best quality mattress to suit your needs. We offer same-day delivery, and we will help you set up your new bed for free. Contact us today!
