Co‐sleeping: Help or hindrance for young children's independence?

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between sleep arrangements and claims regarding possible problems and benefits related to co-sleeping. Participants were 83 mothers of preschoolaged children. Data were collected through parent questionnaires. Early co-sleepers (who began co-sleeping in infancy), reactive co-sleepers (children who began co-sleeping at or after age one), and solitary sleepers were compared on the dimensions of maternal attitudes toward sleep arrangements; night wakings and bedtime struggles; children's self-reliance and independence in social and sleep-related behaviours; and maternal autonomy support. The hypothesis that co-sleeping would interfere with children's independence was partially supported: solitary sleepers fell asleep alone, slept through the night, and weaned earlier than the co-sleepers. However, early co-sleeping children were more self-reliant (e.g. ability to dress oneself) and exhibited more social independence (e.g. make friends by oneself). Mothers of early co-sleeping children were least favourable toward solitary sleep arrangements and most supportive of their child's autonomy, as compared to mothers in other sleep groups. Reactive cosleepers emerged as a distinct co-sleeping sub-type, with parents reporting frequent night wakings and, contrary to early cosleepers, experiencing these night wakings as highly disruptive. Implications for parents and pediatricians are discussed.

Sleep arrangements, parent–infant sleep during the first year, and family functioning.

“…In addition, mothers provided information in Keller and Goldberg’s (2004) Sleep Practices Questionnaire (SPQ) about whether they thought they had adequate sleeping space for everyone in their household. That specific SPQ item was, “We have limited sleeping space”, to which mothers responded on a five-point scale (1 = “ Not at all , 5 = “ Definitely ”).…”

Eye of the beholder? Maternal mental health and the quality of infant sleep

“…The Sleep Practices Questionnaire (SPQ; Keller & Goldberg, 2004) was the primary source of information about infant sleep and maternal reactions to sleep behaviors.…”

Co-sleeping and children's sleep in China

“…Accordingly, most parents believe that co-sleeping means security and the intimacy of a happy family, and so is essential to, and more natural for, a child's long-term emotional development. Some long-term follow-up studies comparing infants who slept with their parents with those who slept alone have shown that the children who co-slept were happier, less anxious, had higher self-esteem, were less likely to be afraid of sleep, had fewer behavioral problems, tended to be more comfortable with intimacy, and were generally more independent as adults (Crawford 1994;Keller and Goldberg 2004). Furthermore, when the young mother needs to return to work, bed-sharing provides the opportunity for mothers and infants to spend prolonged periods in close physical contact (described as a benefit of bed-sharing by many working mothers).…”