Parent Experiences of Parent-child Co-sleeping in Western Societies

Co-sleeping refers to parents and children sleeping in close proximity, including bed-sharing and/or room-sharing. While globally common and biologically normal, Western societies typically promote solitary sleep, citing concerns about independence and safety. Dominant messaging often stigmatises the practice and portrays solitary sleep as expected and healthier. However, this can lead to co-sleeping parents experiencing judgment and stress as their behaviour conflicts with cultural expectations. Experiences of dissonance may affect mental health, self-efficacy, and family satisfaction. This thesis explores the experiences of co-sleeping parents in Western societies and the psychosocial and behavioural impacts of these experiences.