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Sleep disturbances in two-month-old infants sharing the bed with parent(s)

I A Kelmanson1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Clinical Psychology, Institute of Special Education and Special Psychology of the Raoul Wallenberg, International University for Family and Child, St. Petersburg, Russia. iakelmanson@hotmail.com

Minerva Pediatrica
|May 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Infant-parent bed sharing at two months old was linked to more reported sleep problems. Babies who shared beds experienced more night wakings and breathing issues, according to maternal reports.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Infant sleep practices, including bed sharing, are influenced by cultural norms and parental choices.
  • Understanding the impact of bed sharing on infant sleep is crucial for promoting healthy sleep development.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the effects of bed sharing on infant sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant-parent bed sharing during nighttime sleep and the sleep characteristics of two-month-old infants.
  • To determine if bed sharing is related to specific sleep parameters such as duration, awakenings, and breathing patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 112 healthy two-month-old infants in St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • Mothers reported on their infant's sleep behavior, including bed sharing practices and sleep quality.
  • Infants were categorized as either solitary sleepers or bed sharers, with sleep characteristics assessed via questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • Of the 112 infants, 26% regularly shared a bed with their parents.
  • Infants who shared beds exhibited significantly higher scores for sleep duration problems and night wakings.
  • Bed-sharing infants were more likely to experience difficulty returning to sleep independently and had higher reported rates of noisy breathing during sleep.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal reports indicated a higher prevalence of disturbed sleep among two-month-old infants who shared a bed with their parents.
  • The findings suggest a potential link between infant-parent bed sharing and poorer sleep outcomes in early infancy.
Abstract

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