Cultural Differences in Baby Sleep Practices

American Approach

Values independence and autonomy
High rates of infant solitary sleep and sleep training
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends: Placing infant on back, on firm surface, separate from parents; Room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least 6 months (ideally a year)
74.4% of American mothers place infants on separate sleep surfaces
Only 57.7% of mothers room-share per AAP recommendations
Racial/ethnic differences exist: White Americans more likely to place infants alone in own room compared to African Americans or Latino Americans
Focus on 'independence training' from early age
Limited education on safe bed-sharing despite many mothers falling asleep while nursing

Co-sleeping is cultural norm
Believe infant's autonomy and security are enhanced by co-sleeping
72% of families practice co-sleeping
Common pattern: infant starts in own bed, then joins parents upon waking
Swedish parents believe: "The child is a natural being who needs a safe environment", "Co-sleeping is thought of as normal", Children have "right of access to safety and comfort of parent's body"
Parents enjoy co-sleeping and advocate for it as good developmental practice
Confident that co-sleeping helps children become more secure and independent in future

View sleeping as a form of social behavior
Practice biphasic sleep due to climate and workload
Despite smaller homes and crowded towns, strongly value co-sleeping
Consider co-sleeping "expectable, protective, comforting, and integral to foundational relationships"
69% of families bed-share with 1-4 people
Only 21% of sleep is entirely solitary (mostly unmarried adult men)
ALL study participants had co-slept with parents from birth through infancy
Children rarely sleep alone (only 3%), typically sleep with parents or siblings
Research suggests co-sleeping may increase sleep quality for all ages
Sleep viewed as integral factor for maintaining familial relationships

Emphasizes collectivism, interdependence, and solidarity
Interdependence model with intense close relationships between mother and child
Japanese mothers report "considering sleeping alone merciless in forcing independence on infants"
Despite modernization and urbanization, co-sleeping remains prevalent
72% of mothers sleep within arm's reach of infant (co-sleeper or bed-sharing)
20% sleep out of reach but in same room
Only 8% sleep in separate room (these mothers showed more individualistic beliefs)
Contemporary Japanese culture maintains strong interdependence values

Independence-focused cultures: United Kingdom, United States, Germany
Interdependence-focused cultures: Sweden, Egypt, Japan
Cultural beliefs about infant sleep location stem from broader cultural value systems
Interdependent cultures view co-sleeping as beneficial for development
Independent cultures view solitary sleep as beneficial for development