Introduction
Sleeping well is considered to be an important aspect of healthy growing up. Research has shown that numerous factors play an important role in determining the sleep locations and routines of the children all over the world. These factors could be socio economic status, availability of the space, family size and climatic conditions. In different cultures parents decide to let their children sleep alone, with themselves or with the siblings. In the United States there is a strong belief among a larger section of the population that solitary sleep is essential for inculcating a habit of independence. In the last decade the American Association of Pediatrics stated that it is more appropriate for parents to sleep with their children if the children need emotional support of some kind (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 26). Co sleeping and solitary sleeping is practiced all over the world. The aim of this paper is to study the different sleep patterns such as solitary or co sleeping in the United States of America and different cultures around the world. I will try to identify the reasons behind the choice of the parents in letting their child sleep alone or with a partner such as the parents, siblings or a caregiver.
Main Body
I will begin by examining the sleep patterns among different races in the United States of America as mentioned in the article “The Context of Preschool’s Children Sleep: Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Sleep Locations, Routines and Concerns” by Milan et al (2007). There are a number of factors that shape the sleeping location of the children. However research has shown that cultural beliefs related to child upbringing also play an important role in determining sleep patterns. In the United States a large population unanimously agrees on the current standard of letting the child sleep alone. The same belief is also supported in Germany. The basic purpose behind this belief is to led the child learn to grow independently and with autonomy. Independence and autonomy are characteristics believed to be associated with adulthood. In theses countries solitary sleep is viewed as a part of the training of growing up independently. On the contrary there are many countries such as the Mayan communities of Guatemala, where solitary sleep is believed as unnecessary “hardship” and is widely discouraged. Theses are places where interdependence and communal life is greatly valued (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 20).
A study carried out in the United States showed interesting relationship between parental beliefs and sleep locations of the children. The researchers observed that despite the fact that Americans believe in letting the child sleep alone, there existed a difference related to sleep locations among different races living in the United States. The study included parents of White, African Americans and Hispanic children. Based on the observations it was concluded that White parents prefer to let their children sleep alone. Among Hispanics the preferable sleep location for children is with their parents and among African Americans with the siblings. A further study was carried out to evaluate the role of parental education and the availability of more rooms in the above mentioned decision of different races. The results indicated that parental education and availability of space did not make any striking difference in the parental choice of determining the sleep location of the children. Hispanic parents still preferred to let their children sleep with parents and African Americans still preferred to sleep with their siblings (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 22).
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics bedtime routines are important in inculcating a habit of self regulation and calmness. For that matter bedtime routines are greatly valued in the United States and even in the Netherlands. On the contrary bedtime routines are not considered important in countries where being well regulated is considered less important. Italy is a prominent case in this regard. In Italy children are more involved in familial activities during the day that it becomes obvious for them to fall asleep when and where they feel tired and find a suitable place (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 20).
The reason behind the differences in different races regarding the sleep location is based on the cultural beliefs embedded in the parents. White parents believe that sleeping alone helps a child to grow independently. Among Hispanics familism is considered to be very important. There is less emphasis on individuation and individual achievement. Keeping the familism in view the Latinos tend to keep their children at home until they are married. At the same time the old parents are also believed to live with the adult children. Latinos give great importance to parent child relationship and in particular the parent mother relationship. Words such as “mamita” (little mother) or “papito” (little father) are often heard among Hispanics to show love and affection between romantic partners and between parents and children. The Latinos believe that parents and children sleeping together can help in transmitting the value of a family from one generation to another (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 26).
Likewise the African Americans have their own beliefs that allow them to let their children sleep with the siblings. Family relationships are considered important among African Americans and for that matter sharing bedrooms with siblings is considered important. Both historical and contemporary evidence support the building up of sibling relationships. During the period of slavery parents were usually separated from their children and the sibling ties became strong to keep the family together. In the contemporary world the shortened life span of the African American relatives as compared to other groups promotes the idea of sibling bonding. At the same time older siblings are also considered helpful in preventing young ones from troubled neighborhood filled with violence and criminal activities. Words such as “sister” or “brother” for people outside the family indicates the importance of these relations for African Americans as they are related to “affection, commitment and mutual responsibility (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 26).”
Cultural beliefs also play an important role in identifying the reasons for various sleep problems. Chinese children are believed to have more difficulty in falling asleep during night and day as compared to the American children. It is because Chinese children are expected to spend more time doing homework, domestic chores and participating in all aspects of life that are essential in Confucian principals. At the same time one child per family policy also plays a role in adding burden to a child’s life (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 20).
The article “Privileged Treatment of Toddlers: Cultural Aspects of Individual Choice and Responsibility” by Mosier et al. (2003) highlights another interesting aspect of co sleeping in Mayan community of Guatemala. Mayans believe that “the middle –class U.S. cultural practice of forcing toddlers to sleep apart from their family may create a feeling of distance and estrangement that may make it more difficult (compared with the practices used with the Mayan toddlers) to develop a cooperative attitude with the family and to learn how to act by observing family members (Mosier et al, 2003, pg. 1049)”. In the Mayan community parents allow the youngest child to sleep with them on the basis of the privileged position given to him or her. Toddlers or youngest child are given special privilege till the time they are able to understand things around them. In the Mayan community of Guatemala there are two separate sets of rules for the toddlers and the rest of the siblings. Many parents do allow their children to sleep with them till the time a new sibling arrives and the child is shifted towards accepting a responsible role. Other siblings are expected to cooperate with the new infant and can be held accountable for his well being. In Guatemala, San Pedro, children learn to be responsible by giving away their privileged position to the newcomer. During pregnancy the toddler is prepared to make way for the new baby by learning to be responsible. He is encouraged to spend more time with older siblings and father. Near the end of the pregnancy his sleeping location is changed from being next to the mother to next to the father or older sibling. However this transition does not usually occur with the last born child. They enjoy the privileged position for a longer period. This however is not the case with the European and American families where all the siblings are expected to follow the same set of rules (Mosier et al, 2003, pg. 1049).
In another article “Cultural Variations in Infants’ Sleeping Arrangements: Questions of Independence” by Morelli et al. (1992) reasons for co sleeping in various countries are studied. The article states that Americans support solitary sleep on the basis that it promotes independence and healthy psychological growth (pg. 604). Going across the borders of the United States of America co sleeping is found common in countries such as Italy, Japan and Korea. In Japan children sleep adjacent to their mothers in early childhood and continue to sleep with some caregiver or family member till the age of 15. At times parents separate themselves to provide sleeping partner to their children due to lack of space available and the increased family size. Japanese view the U.S concept of solitary sleep as “merciless in pushing small children towards such independence at night (Morelli et al, 1992, pg. 605).” Japanese promote co sleeping because they believe that a child is born as a separate being and he should learn “interdependent relationships” in order to survive with the community members. Co sleeping is thought to be an important way to promote inter dependent relationships. Japanese believe the American mother-infant relationship as two separate individuals and the Japanese mother-infant relationship as one individual (Morelli et al, 1992, pg. 611).
Aviezer et al. (1999) discusses another kind of co sleeping in his article “Emotional Availability and Attachment Representations in Kibbutz Infants and their Mothers.” Israeli Kibbutz practice collective sleeping. Children sleep in two ecological environments. There are parental homes and special children houses where children slept away from their parents. Children sleeping with their parents were more emotionally attached with their mothers as compared to those sleeping in the children houses. The basic aim of children sleeping away from their parents was to provide a secure environment away from various parental conflicts and to help them grow up as an inseparable part of the society. However the choice of putting children in children homes or parental homes is entirely dependent on the parents’ choice (Aviezer et al. 1999, pg. 818).
Worthman et al (2007) discusses some other points behind the choice of sleep locations in his article “Companionable Sleep: Social Regulation of Sleep and Co sleeping in Egyptian Families.” It has been observed that in almost all cultures puberty is the age where parents are unanimous in their decision to let their children sleep alone. Since puberty and adolescence is associated with an increased awareness and attraction towards sexual activities parents in all cultures make arrangements to allow their child to sleep independently. Cross cultural evidence indicates that co sleeping among brothers and sisters and parents and children is greatly discouraged after the age of puberty. Research related to Chinese Urban children indicates that bed sharing among siblings decreased from 56% in 7 years old to 7% in 11-13 years old (Worthman et al. 2007, pg. 126). In Egypt although co sleeping was a common practice still adolescents and young adults were made to sleep alone. Neither adult males nor females shared beds with each other. Although girls slept with their parents till the time they got married but they were given separate beds during adolescence. Boys on the other hand slept with their male siblings during childhood and early adolescence. However unmarried young men slept alone. This practice could be due to the Egyptian cultural belief of promoting individualism among adolescents by giving them separate bedrooms or beds (Worthman et al, 2007, pg. 132).
Several socio-economic conditions also make co sleeping a necessity. In Egypt co sleeping among family members is a necessity. A study carried out in Cairo, Egypt indicates the city being densely populated with 171 persons per square miles. In 2001 Cairo’s population was estimated to be 17.3 million. The city is cramped and over crowded. Large families are often found living in small apartments or in single rooms. For that matter co sleeping become ubiquitous. Family members are found sleeping on the sofas, mats, platform beds or near the walls. Only the affluent can enjoy the luxurious life. Moreover Egyptians enjoy daytime naps as well due to the hot temperature. Researchers have observed that there is no compulsion regarding the sleep location for daytime naps and family members can sleep wherever they want. Naps are usually taken in the living rooms (Worthman et al. 2007, pg. 126).
The same situation is also found in rural Egypt. Observations related to Mahallat Marhum village also show similar results. Large families sleep together usually in one room. The parents sleep on the platform bed and the children sleep on the mats on the floor. In Egypt co sleeping thus becomes a condition out of necessity due to the non availability of space and large families (Worthman et al. 2007, pg. 126). Psychological problems, such as insomnia, among Egyptian youth are also an important factor that encourages co sleeping. On the other hand youth having skewed schedules or sleep difficulties many sleep alone (Worthman et al. 2007, pg. 133).
Conclusion
To conclude it has become evident from the study of the above articles that the choice of sleep locations depends more on the cultural beliefs that are embedded in the parents than other factors such as family size, socio economic condition and availability of space. A large population of the United States of America supports the concept of solitary sleep to promote the habits of independence and self reliance. However other cultures do not necessarily agree with this idea. Through this research we can safely conclude that sleeping patterns are different in different races living in the same country and in different parts of the world and that cultural beliefs are preferred even though there is no hurdle in the way of popular decision.
References
Aviezer, O., Sagi, A., Joels, T., Ziv, Y. (1999). “Emotional Availability and Attachment Representations in Kibbutz Infants and Their Mothers.” Developmental Psychology, Vol. 35, No. 3. Pg. 811-821.
Milan, S., Snow, S., Belay, S., (2007). “The Context of Preschool Children’s Sleep: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Sleep Locations, Routines and Concerns.” Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 1, Pg. 20-28.
Morelli, G.A., Rogoff, B., Oppenheim, D,. Goldsmith, D. (1992). “Cultural Variation in Infants’ Sleeping Arrangements: Questions of Independence.” Developmental Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 4. Pg. 604-613.
Mosier, C.E., Rogoff, B. (2003). “Privileged Treatment of Toddlers: Cultural Aspect of Individual Choice and Responsibility.” Developmental Psychology, Vol. 39. No. 6, Pg. 1047-1060.
Worthman, M.C., Brown, R.A. (2007). “Companionable Sleep: Social Regulation of Sleep and Cosleeping in Egyptian Families”. Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 21, No. 1. Pg. 124-135.