Cosleeping in a community sample of 2- and 3-year-old children

In many cultures, parents and children sleep together. However, in America, parents are advised that children should sleep in their own beds, that 'cosleeping' can cause many types of problems, including those affecting the children, the parents, or the relationship between parent and child. A study concerning child sleeping behavior and behavioral problems was conducted among 303 parents with 2- or 3-year-old children. The children slept with their parents at least occasionally, especially during times of minor stress or disruption of the family routine, for at least part of the night, in 55 percent of the households. Frequent cosleeping (more than once per week) occurred in 40 percent of the families and cosleeping on a regular basis occurred with 11 percent of the families. Frequent cosleeping was not dependent on the age or sex of the child, but was more prevalent among nonwhite families (50 percent compared with 21 percent in white families) and households where the mother was a single parent (45 percent compared with 38 percent when the father was present). Cosleeping on a regular basis occurred in 23 percent of the families with the mother as the single parent, compared with 8 percent in families where the father was present. There was not a significant relationship between cosleeping and child behavior problems. Cosleepers had more sleeping problems, including difficulty going to sleep, and waking up during the night. One year after the initial study, those who were still cosleeping frequently had sleep problems compared with those who were no longer cosleeping and those who never slept with their parents. Therefore, cosleeping of parents and 2- to 3-year-old children is common and not related to maladjustment of the child. However, cosleeping does seem to cause sleep problems in children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)