Results of a new survey commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reveal that co-sleeping is common, with 46% of parents saying they sometimes, often or always co-sleep with a child under the age of 18. The AASM urges parents of infants to take important precautions to ensure that their child has a safe sleep environment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks the occurrence of sudden unexpected infant deaths in the U.S. The CDC reports that more than 1,000 infants died from accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed in 2022.
“Co-sleeping is unsafe for infants, and routinely co-sleeping can potentially detract from the development of healthy sleep habits in children of any age,” said Dr. Rakesh Bhattacharjee, sleep physician and AASM spokesperson. “Consistently sleeping in their own sleep space may help children foster healthy sleep patterns.”
It is important for parents of young children to prioritize sleep, establish routines that support healthy sleep habits, and create a safe sleep environment. For infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for at least the first six months.
An AASM health advisory also provides these tips to promote a safe sleep environment for infants:
- An infant should be put to sleep on his or her back on a firm and flat surface covered with a fitted sheet such as a crib mattress, bassinet or play pen that meets the safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Additional sheets and soft blankets, crib bumpers, stuffed animals and toys should be kept out of the infant’s sleep area.
- The room in which an infant sleeps should be quiet with no loud or continuous noise.
It is common for a parent to occasionally co-sleep with a child who is scared or sick. However, parents who routinely co-sleep with a child should consider whether the practice is helping their child develop a consistent, healthy sleep pattern.
“As parents, we should be helping our children develop habits and learn routines that establish good sleep hygiene that will enable them to enjoy the benefits of healthy sleep for a lifetime,” said Bhattacharjee.
Parents who have concerns about their child’s sleep can use the AASM’s sleep center directory to get help from the sleep team at an accredited sleep center.
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About the Survey
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine commissioned an online survey of 2,006 adults in the U.S. The overall margin of error fell within +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between May 16-24, 2024. Atomik Research is an independent market research agency.
About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country.
