Pattern and Profile of Co-Sleeping in School-Aged Children

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Barathy Chandrasegaran1, - Devikittu2, Shanthi Ananthakrishnan3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry. barathy_c@rediffmail.com.

Indian Pediatrics
|February 2, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Co-sleeping is highly prevalent in children aged 5-12, with nearly all participating children co-sleeping. Bed-sharing was linked to increased wake-up resistance and night terrors in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Co-sleeping, defined as sleeping in the same bed or room as a parent or sibling, is a common practice globally.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated sleep problems is crucial for child health and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and patterns of co-sleeping among children aged 5-12 years.
  • To identify sleep problems associated with co-sleeping practices.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving parents of children aged 5-12 years.
  • Data collected included co-sleeping arrangements (bed-sharing vs. room-sharing) and reported sleep problems.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of co-sleeping was observed, with 97.8% of children participating in the study co-sleeping.
  • Among co-sleepers, 48.7% were bed-sharers and 51.3% were room-sharers.
  • Child's age and socio-economic status were associated with bed-sharing. Bed-sharing children experienced more wake-up resistance and night terrors.

Conclusions:

  • Co-sleeping is nearly universal in the studied population of children aged 5-12.
  • Bed-sharing is associated with specific sleep disturbances, including difficulty waking and night terrors, suggesting potential implications for child sleep health.

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