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An evolutionary perspective on night terrors.

Sean D Boyden1, Martha Pott2, Philip T Starks1

  • 1Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.

Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health
|May 17, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Cosleeping, the practice of sleeping with children, may prevent night terrors (early childhood parasomnias). This evolutionary practice offers health and safety benefits, unlike solitary sleeping arrangements.

Keywords:
diseases of cultureparasomniaphysiological benefitspsychosocial benefitssleep training

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Evolutionary Anthropology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Night terrors are common early childhood parasomnias with unknown causes and no consistent treatments.
  • Western medical practices have increasingly discouraged cosleeping, a common practice in non-Western cultures and among primates.
  • Cosleeping may offer evolutionary health and safety advantages for developing children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of cosleeping as a preventative measure for night terrors.
  • To analyze the health and safety implications of cosleeping, room-sharing, and solitary sleeping from an evolutionary viewpoint.
  • To challenge the Western medical discouragement of cosleeping.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and theoretical analysis of cultural practices, evolutionary benefits, and sleep arrangements.
  • Discussion of night terrors in the context of different sleeping arrangements (cosleeping, room-sharing, solitary sleeping).
  • Comparative analysis of sleep practices across cultures and primate species.

Main Results:

  • Cosleeping with children aged one year and older may prevent night terrors.
  • Cosleeping with infants (under 11 months) is suggested as preferable to room-sharing in certain circumstances.
  • Both cosleeping and room-sharing are considered superior to solitary sleeping for infant health and safety.

Conclusions:

  • Reinstating cosleeping practices could offer a solution to the common childhood issue of night terrors.
  • An evolutionary perspective supports the health and safety benefits of cosleeping for children.
  • Further research and a shift in Western medical recommendations regarding cosleeping are warranted.