Cultural Perspectives on Infant Sleeping Arrangements

Throughout the world, for centuries, parents and infants have engage in many different sleeping arrangements. In the Western World solitary sleeping is strongly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Solitary sleeping, or sleeping in separate rooms and separate beds, is said to promote the infants independence and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The AAP has even issued multiple warnings on the dangers of shared sleeping arrangements, citing concerns regarding the safety, wellbeing, and the independence of the child. While the health and safety of an infant is the top priority for all the Western idea of solitary sleeping does not consider the different cultural beliefs of others. Therefore, despite

the warnings approximately ninety percent of the world participates in some form of a shared sleeping arrangement (170 Berk).

Co-sleeping and bedsharing are among the most popular forms of this practice. Most, who choose co-sleeping or bedsharing, feel the benefit out way the risk and it can be accomplice in a safe manner. Co-sleeping or room sharing is the practice of the infant sleeping in the same room while in their own bed or crib. Bedsharing is the practice of parent and infant sleeping on the same bed surface. In order to determine which sleeping style is the most beneficial for both the infant and parent it is important to first understand the similarities and differences of co-sleeping and bedsharing.

Co-sleeping and bedsharing are very similar in theory, and share many of the same benefits but have vase differences. One of the greatest benefits associated with shared sleeping is that it promotes breastfeeding. For these mothers co-sleeping provides quick accessibility to the infant during the night. While bedsharing

provides the same accessibility it is also shown to provide a greater benefit for the both mother and the child. For mothers that have their infants next to them the number of “breast feeding session per night increase significantly” (10 Gettler and McKenna), lasting longer, and have shorter intervals between feeding session. The increase induration and frequency provides greater protection for the infants immune and digestive systems. More frequent breastfeeding can also be attributed with providing the mother with “lactational amenorrhea, which may reduce the risk of certain female reproductive cancers” (5 Gettler and McKenna). Another benefit of co-sleeping and bedsharing is that it increases the bond between the infant and mother. Having the child close at night promotes positive interaction, promotes the infants well-being, and begins to give the infant independence. Keeping in line with promoting well-being bedsharing provides positive interaction but does not also for the child to engage in a sense of independence. A child’s lack of independence can cause undue stress when they began to solidarity sleeping. Lastly co-sleeping provides a major benefit in that it greatly reduce the risk of SIDS, opposed to bedsharing. According to the Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health, “for infants <3 months old … the risk [of SIDS for those that participated] in co-sleeping was low (0.08 per 1000 births) but was over five times higher for bed sharing infants”.

Initially I felt that co-sleeping and bedsharing where interchangeable, but after doing my research I found that they are similar but also very different. While they both provide vast benefits for the mother and child, it is in my opinion co-sleeping provides the maximum benefit and the least amount of risk to the infant. For breastfeeding mothers co-sleeping allows quick access to the infant during the night but also keeps the risk of SIDS low. Co-sleeping also increases the bond between a mother and child while still promoting the infants independence.
In conclusion there are many similarities and differences regarding the benefits of co-sleeping and bedsharing.

It could be concluded that co-sleeping provides the maximum benefit for both the mother and infant. It promotes the health and well-being of the child while fostering their independence. On the other hand bedsharing may help build a stronger bond between the mother and child. However, sleeping arrangements much like child rearing is a personal choice that a family must decide for themselves. It is up to the family to look at their beliefs, values, life style, and consider which will work best for them. So may feel bedsharing will suite their needs while other my feel another sleeping arrangement is the most adequate for them. The goal of a parent is to provide an optimal environment for their infant and whichever sleeping arrangement promotes that is the arrangement they should

choose.