There’s a lot of talk about sleep in parenting spaces. Everyone seems to have strong opinions, especially about where babies and children should sleep.
But a recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine just confirmed what so many of us already know. Most parents are sleeping with their children.
What the New Data Shows
According to the AASM’s 2024 Sleep Prioritization Survey, 46 percent of parents say they sometimes, often, or always sleep with a child under 18.
When we look at younger parents, those numbers go up even more. 59% percent of parents aged 18 to 24 and 66 percent of parents aged 25 to 34 share sleep with their children at least sometimes. This makes sense because parents in these age ranges are the most likely to have young children.
So yes, cosleeping is common. It always has been. But somehow, this still feels like new information to the people making the rules.
We Already Know This
For many of us, this isn’t new. We already know that cosleeping is common. We already know that parents all over the world have shared sleep with their children since the beginning of time. And this isn’t the first study to show it either. There have been plenty of surveys and research studies that have shown how many parents are bed-sharing.
This new survey simply reinforces what we already know to be true. Most families are cosleeping. They are doing it because it works, because it’s normal, and because it meets the needs of both parent and child.
The real question is, when will the medical field start listening? When will pediatricians, sleep specialists, and organizations like the AAP recognize what this data keeps showing? And how can we start supporting families to safely cosleep in way that meets everyone’s needs rather than reprimanding them over and over?
Parents aren’t ignoring advice. They are responding to their babies. They are doing what comes naturally.
Why Parents Sleep With Their Children
There are so many reasons why parents co-sleep:
It’s biologically normal.
Human babies are born wired for closeness. They sleep best near the people who keep them safe. Parents naturally sleep more lightly when their babies are close, which helps protect them.
It supports breastfeeding and responsiveness.
Nighttime feedings are easier when your baby is nearby. You don’t have to fully wake up or walk across the room, which helps everyone get more rest.
It helps the whole family sleep.
When babies are close, they often settle more easily. Many parents wake less often when cosleeping, and find it easier to return to sleep when they don’t have to get out of bed.
It builds connection.
Sleep is not just about physical rest. It is also about emotional connection and security. Sharing sleep nurtures attachment and helps children feel safe.
Why This Conversation Matters
If more than half of parents are cosleeping at least sometimes, it’s time to stop pretending it’s rare or wrong. We need to shift the conversation away from fear and toward education.
Parents deserve supportive, evidence-based information about how to cosleep safely. They deserve to feel empowered to make choices that work for their families without guilt or shame.
Ignoring what the data keeps showing does not make babies safer. Supporting parents with real information does.
Want to Learn More About Safe Bedsharing?
If you’re one of the many families who share sleep and want to make sure you’re doing it as safely as possible, I have a full post that walks through everything you need to know about safe bedsharing practices.
