Is sharing a bed bad for my child?

The results of a new study indicate that bed-sharing does not negatively affect cognitive or behavioral development in young children.

Researchers at the Stony Brook University School of Medicine looked at the sleep habits of 944 low-income families over a period of several years. The families they included represented a diverse sample of racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as geographic location.

In a survey, parents were asked to describe their family’s sleep habits -- particularly regarding co-sleeping when their children were ages 1, 2, and 3 years. At age 5, researchers assessed the children’s cognitive and behavioral development, including early math and literacy skills, social skills, and levels of hyperactivity. They found that co-sleeping during the toddler years does not negatively affect development by the age of 5. It’s important to note that researchers also found no developmental benefit to children from co-sleeping.