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Higher rectal temperatures in co-sleeping infants
C S Tuffnell1, S A Petersen, M P Wailoo
1Department of Child Health, University of Leicester.
Insights
Infants co-sleeping with parents had higher deep body temperatures during the night. This study found co-sleeping babies had a mean rectal temperature 0.1°C higher than those sleeping alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Thermoregulation
- Infant Sleep Safety
Background:
- Co-sleeping is a common practice, but its effects on infant physiology require further investigation.
- Understanding infant thermoregulation is crucial for safe sleep environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of co-sleeping on deep body temperature in infants.
- To compare rectal temperatures of co-sleeping infants with those sleeping alone.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 34 co-sleeping infants and 34 matched controls sleeping alone.
- Continuous overnight rectal temperature recordings were obtained for all participants.
Main Results:
- Co-sleeping infants exhibited significantly higher rectal temperatures starting two hours after bedtime.
- The mean rectal temperature for co-sleeping infants was 0.1°C higher than for infants sleeping alone (p < 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Co-sleeping is associated with elevated infant deep body temperature.
- This physiological difference may have implications for infant sleep safety and development.
Abstract:
The effect on deep body temperature of infants co-sleeping (with either or both parents) is investigated in this case control study. Overnight continuous recordings of rectal temperature were made from 34 babies co-sleeping with one or both parents throughout the night and 34 infants matched for age, feeding regimen, parental smoking, thermal environment, sleeping position, and sex who slept alone. The co-sleeping infants had significantly higher rectal temperatures from two hours after bedtime, when the initial fall in sleeping body temperature was complete. The mean rectal temperature of co-sleeping infants between two and eight hours was 0.1 degree C higher than that of infants sleeping alone (p < 0.04). Given the very small variance in rectal temperature this probably reflects a considerable physiological difference between the two groups.