Bedsharing Perspectives among Latino Caregivers

In this study, we sought to explain how Latino family caregivers make decisions about where infants sleep using grounded theory methodology.

Latino family caregivers were recruited from the Midwest using purposive theoretical sampling via social media and word-of-mouth.

Participants were interviewed virtually via Zoom. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Open coding, selective coding, and theoretical coding were used to create themes and categories.

Forty-five Latino family caregivers participated. The basic social process of Latino family infant sleep decision-making was Caregiver Vigilance . There were three outcomes of the process ( placement in a crib, intentional bedsharing , or unintentional bedsharing ). Six factors ( pediatrician recommendations, family caregivers' beliefs about infant sleeping behaviors, grandmother's advice, postpartum fatigue, breastfeeding , and bonding ) influenced each outcome in patterned ways.

Safe infant sleep decisions among caregivers in the Latino community are complex. Our findings can help nurses assess the needs of the Latino population and address intentional and unintentional bedsharing.