Co-sleeping, an ancient practice: issues of the past and present, and possibilities for the future
Abstract
Co-sleeping-infants sharing the mother's sleep space-has prevailed throughout human evolution, and continued over the centuries of western civilization despite controversy and blame of co-sleeping mothers for the deaths of their infants. By the past century, "crib death" was recognized, later identified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and generally found to occur more frequently during bed sharing. Pediatricians warned parents of the dangers of SIDS and other risks of bed sharing, and the frequency of bed sharing decreased markedly over the years. However, during recent decades, bed sharing began to increase, though major issues were raised, including: whether bed sharing actually exacerbates or is protective against the occurrence of SIDS, whether the practice facilitates breast feeding, whether bed sharing is beneficial for an infant's development, and other concerns. Dissention may soon be diminished by use of a crib which opens at the mother's bed-side and is becoming a popular approach to mother-and-infant closeness through the night.
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Across segments of society, sleep practices and beliefs can vary to a great extent.
“Across segments of society, sleep practices and beliefs can vary to a great extent.”
From Sleep, Health, and Society (2017) · cites this paper as [107]
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“The family bed is used thereafter or when a second child enters the picture (Thoman, 2006).”
BackgroundDevelopmental Cultural Ecology of Sleep
Worthman, C. M. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195395754.003.0008 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Molecular and Genetic Bases of Mammalian Maternal Behavior
Fleming, A. S., & Kraemer, G. W. (2019) · Gender and the Genome · doi:10.1177/2470289719827306 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Some sleep with their babies while others keep their babies in a cot next to them or in their own rooms.(34) Babies are also transported in different ways—some on the front of the body, others on the back; some on cradle boards and others still, in a vehicle.”
BackgroundThe Value of Using an Evolutionary Framework for Gauging Children’s Well-Being
Narvaez, D. F., Panksepp, J., & Schore, A. N. (2013) · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Co‐sleeping in school‐aged children with a motor disability: a comparative population‐based study
Jacquier, D., & Newman, C. J. (2016) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1111/dmcn.13300 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“These are known to influence co-sleeping throughout the world, co-sleeping being less prevalent in Western developed countries.(3,4,16) Several factors were statistically associated with co-sleeping in children with motor disability.”
BackgroundSources of attitudes towards parent–child co‐sleeping and their effects: A systematic scoping review
Kruse, S. P., D’Souza, L., Tuncer, H. G. G., & Stewart, S. E. (2024) · Family Process · doi:10.1111/famp.13022 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
The Value of Using an Evolutionary Framework for Gauging Children's Well-Being
Narvaez, D. F., Panksepp, J., Schore, A. N., & Gleason, T. R. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199755059.003.0001 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“McKenna and colleagues (1994) have documented hidden regulators during human mother–child cosleeping, including facilitation of regular feeding/suckling (Ball & Klingaman, 2007; Ball & Russell, this volume; Buswell & Spatz, 2007; McKenna & Gettler, this volume; Thoman, 2006).”
BackgroundAttachment and Parent-Offspring Conflict
Hart, S. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009371957 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Vogiatzoglou, M., Iliadou, M., Antoniou, E., Andersson, E. P., Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou, I., Dagla, C., Sotiropoulou, D., Tsolaridou, E. P., Orovou, E., Tomara, E., et al. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12131278 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“These findings are consistent with other studies suggesting that co-sleeping is associated with interrupted and less deep sleep for both parents and infants [17,18].”
ResultCo-Sleeping and Bed Sharing in Postnatal Maternity Units
Drever-Smith, C., Bogossian, F. E., & New, K. (2013) · International Journal of Childbirth · doi:10.1891/2156-5287.3.1.13 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Co-sleeping and bed sharing between mothers and newborn infants is an established practice in most cultures during the postnatal and early infancy periods (Thoman, 2006).”
BackgroundBed sharing versus no bed sharing for healthy term neonates
Das, R. R., Sankar, M. J., & Agarwal, R. K. (2021) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd012866.pub2 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Infant Sleep Location: Bed Sharing, Room Sharing and Solitary Sleeping at 6 and 12 Weeks Postpartum
Stremler, R., HODNETT, E. D., Kenton, L., Lee, K. A., MacFarlane, J., Weiss, S. K., Weston, J. A., & Willan, A. R. (2013) · The Open Sleep Journal · doi:10.2174/1874620901306010077 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Hussain, S., Lowell, G. S., Roehler, D. R., Quinlan, K. P., Tandon, S. D., & Schwartz, L. (2018) · Injury Epidemiology · doi:10.1186/s40621-018-0138-y · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Since many mothers tend to breastfeed and bed-share, some groups suggest that safe-sleep messaging should focus on harm reduction, where breastfeeding and bed-sharing occur in safer sleep environments (Thoman 2006; McKenna and Gettler 2016; Ball 2003; Ward 2015).”
BackgroundResultMother–Infant Bed-sharing Is Associated with Increased Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review
Wolf, R. L., Skobic, I., Pope, B. T., Zhu, A., Chamas, H., Sharma, N., Larsen, K. M., Bright, H., & Haynes, P. L. (2025) · Breastfeeding Medicine · doi:10.1089/bfm.2024.0060 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Parent–child Movement Behaviors and Bluetooth Proximity in Preschool-aged Children
Kuzik, N., Naylor, P., Spence, J. C., & Carson, V. (2021) · Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science · doi:10.1080/1091367x.2021.1914051 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Parent–child proximity is also studied as a correlate of children’s sleep through co-sleep, or when both parent and child are sleeping in the same room or bed (Mileva-Seitz et al., 2017; Thoman, 2006).”
BackgroundThe Friend at Midnight: A ‘realistic’ reading as a feminist tool
du Toit, C. D. (2022) · Verbum et Ecclesia · doi:10.4102/ve.v43i1.2633 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Subsequently, they would be held responsible and accused of smothering the child if the child died during the night (Thoman 2006:408).”
BackgroundLam, K. K. W., Ho, K. Y., Xia, W., Chung, J. O. K., Cheung, A. T., Ho, L. L. K., Chiu, S. Y., Chan, G., & Li, W. H. C. (2021) · Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2021.09.008 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Marakovitz, S. E., Sheldrick, R. C., Copeland, W., Restrepo, B., Hastedt, I., Carpenter, K. L. H., McGinnis, E. W., & EGGER, H. L. (2023) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health · doi:10.1186/s13034-023-00607-w · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Bed-sharing, defined as a child and parent sleeping in the same bed for part or all of some or all nights, is a practice that has varied widely around the world and throughout human history [1].”
BackgroundBed sharing versus no bed sharing for healthy term neonates
Das, R. R., Sankar, M. J., & Agarwal, R. K. (2017) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd012866 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“From the evolutionary point of view, humans follow mammalian pattern aJer birth of the baby, which means mothers sleep in close proximity to their babies (McKenna 2005; Mileva-Seitz 2017; Thoman 2006).”
BackgroundInfluentialHoogsteen, L. (2010) · Nursing for Women s Health · doi:10.1111/j.1751-486x.2010.01525.x · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Coleito no primeiro semestre de vida: prevalência e fatores associados
Issler, R. M. S., Giugliani, E. R. J., Maróstica, P. J. C., Nieto, F., Milani, A. R., Wolmeister, A. S., Scherer, M. B., Pires, D. O., Oliveira, M. N., Pinto, D. G. C., et al. (2010) · Cadernos de Saúde Pública · doi:10.1590/s0102-311x2010000500016 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Parental Misperceptions About Infant Sleep as a Moderator Between Co-Sleeping and Infant Sleep
Roh, Y., Jang, E., Barnett, N. R., & Suh, S. A. (2023) · Journal of Sleep Medicine · doi:10.13078/jsm.230012 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“또한 서양 국가는 잠을 자기 위해 침대 를 사용했으나, 동양 국가는 수면을 포함함 대부분의 생활이 바닥을 중심으로 이루어지면서 서양 국가보다 코슬리핑을 자연스럽게 선호하는 모습을 보이게 되었다고 설명한다.(29,36) 코슬리핑 선호에 대한 문화적 차이는 코슬리핑 하는 보호자 의 특성에 영향을 미칠 수 있어, 추후 연구에서는 동양 국가 의 수면 형태 특성이 보호자의 인지 및 야간 관여 행동, 영유 아 수면 지표와 어떤 연관성을 가지는지 서양 국가의 특성과 비교하며 검증할 필요가 있을 것이다.”
Vousoura, E., & Ekizoglou, C. (2021) · Sexes · doi:10.3390/sexes2040032 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Bed sharing—the sharing of a sleeping surface by parents and children—has been a common sleeping strategy throughout human evolution [1,2], offering the mother–infant dyad a sense of security and facilitating breastfeeding on demand [3].”
BackgroundHart, S. (2022) · Evolutionary psychology · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-76000-7_7 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Neophytou, K., Rodríguez‐González, M., & Lampis, J. (2020) · Systems Research and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1002/sres.2690 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Drever-Smith, C., Bogossian, F. E., & New, K. (2015) · International Journal of Childbirth · doi:10.1891/2156-5287.5.1.33 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Co-sleeping and bed sharing between mothers and their infants are widespread practices in most cultures (Thoman, 2006), although these practices have been increasingly questioned in the western world in response to sudden unexpected infant deaths (Drever-Smith, Bogossian, & New, 2013).”
BackgroundEarly Childhood Pediatric Sleep Concerns for Parents: Co-sleeping☆
Sullivan, S. S., & Ball, H. L. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809324-5.00880-4 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Colecho, sueño y lactancia humana
Rivero, C. H. (2021) · Gaceta Médica de Caracas · doi:10.47307/gmc.2021.129.s3.19 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Cordts, K. M. P., & Kuhn, B. R. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818697-8.00050-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sleep Characteristics in Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding Mothers
Rosen, E. C. (2009) · ProQuest Demo Repository · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Early Childhood Pediatric Sleep Concerns for Parents: Cosleeping
Sullivan, S. S. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-378610-4.00017-6 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Schlaud, M. (2010) · Current Pediatric Reviews · doi:10.2174/157339610791317142
Stremler, R., HODNETT, E. D., Kenton, L., Lee, K. A., Macfarlane, J., Weiss, S. K., Weston, J. A., & Willan, A. R. (2011) · Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1016/s1389-9457(11)70338-0
“ca highlighted the wide variation in societal, cultural, and individual beliefs and practices around ISL [3, 4].”
BackgroundThe Value of Using an Evolutionary Framework for Gauging Children's
Narvaez, D. F., Panksepp, J., Schore, A. N., & Gleason, T. R. (2013)
(2017) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b10464-15
Kuzik, N. (2020) · ERA: Education and Research Archive (University of Alberta) · doi:10.7939/r3-30cn-eq23
Early childhood pediatric sleep concerns for parents: Cosleeping
Sullivan, S. S. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-822963-7.10021-0
Marakovitz, S. E., Sheldrick, R. C., Copeland, W. E., Restrepo, B., Hastedt, I., Carpenter, K. L. H., McGinnis, E. W., & EGGER, H. L. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26590080
45Unhiding female characters in the Parable of the Friend at Midnight
du Toit, C. D. (2025) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783111429434-003
- Authors
- Thoman, E. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Connecticut (US)
- Corresponding author
- Thoman, Evelyn B.
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 407-417
- ISSN
- 1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2011425679
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Keywords
- co-sleeping, bed-sharing, sudden infant death syndrome, breastfeeding, infant development
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude, Dangerous Behavior, Developing Countries, Biological Evolution, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Infant, Mother-Child Relations, Sleep, Sudden Infant Death
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