This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Co-sleeping with infant may cause poorer sleep quality among mothers

Mothers who slept in the same room or bed as their infant reported poorer sleep quality, according to recently published data in Sleep Medicine.

“The present study demonstrates that co-sleeping mothers had significantly poorer sleep quality than solitary sleeping mothers at 3 and 6 months [postpartum], as reflected in more objective and subjective night-wakings, longer wakefulness during the night and shorter continuous sleeping episodes. In addition, at 3 months postpartum, co-sleeping mothers evaluated their sleep quality as poorer than solitary sleeping mothers,” the researchers wrote.

To assess the correlation between sleeping arrangements and maternal sleep quality, the researchers analyzed actigraphy data and sleep diaries of 153 mothers during pregnancy with their first child, and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Co-sleeping was defined as infants sleeping in either the same room or same bed as their mothers.

Results demonstrated that mothers who breast fed were more likely to co-sleep with their infants. Additionally, breastfeeding was associated with poorer infant and maternal sleep at 3 and 6 months postpartum.  

After controlling for feeding technique, infants who co-slept were more likely to wake during the night compared with solitary sleeping infants. However, no association between co-sleeping and objective sleep quality among infants was found.

At 3 months postpartum, mothers who co-slept rated their sleep quality as poorer than mothers who did not co-sleep. At 6 months postpartum, co-sleeping mothers reported longer daytime sleep compared with mothers who did not co-sleep, according to the researchers.

Co-sleeping at 6 months postpartum was associated with poor maternal sleep during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum.  

The researchers noted that future studies should focus on whether room-sharing vs. bed-sharing and planned vs. reactive co-sleeping has an impact on maternal and infant sleep quality.

“When parents seek professional help and consult about the implications of co-sleeping, the possibility should be discussed that the sleep of the infant is not affected by co-sleeping, but rather that co-sleeping mothers are more aware of their infant’s night-wakings. In addition, the poorer sleep quality of co-sleeping mothers and the mother’s motivation for co-sleeping should be taken into consideration,” the researchers concluded. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: Healio.com/Family was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.