A crib (sometimes called a cot) is a small, well-ventilated bed that is securely barred on the sides. Cribs are used mainly by infants and small children. They provide a protective, stable sleeping area where a child can sleep without interruption or disturbance. A crib also enables a child to sleep separately from his or her parents, promoting a sense of self-awareness in the child from a young age and improving privacy and intimacy between couples. On the other hand, a crib could eventually make a child feel alienated from the parents, causing feelings of rejection and abandonment.