Does co-sleeping cause separation anxiety?

Asked by: Miss Nicole Paucek  |  Last update: December 5, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (65 votes)

Cross-sectional associations suggested higher levels of separation anxiety and sleep terrors in children who bed-share nightly, and difficulty maintaining sleep and sleep terrors in children who bed-share weekly.

How does co-sleeping affect your child later?

For example, co-sleeping during the school-aged years has been associated with problems initiating sleep, less nighttime sleep, more daytime sleepiness, more bedtime resistance, increased nighttime awakenings, and greater levels of sleep anxiety (Blader et al.

Does co-sleeping cause attachment issues?

so there is no reason to expect co-sleeping to cause issues. That's particularly true regarding attachment; attachment issues tend to arise precisely when a child's environment differs from the evolutionary environment.

Does cosleeping cause clinginess?

Far from making kids clingy, co-sleeping may in fact have the opposite effect. “When you have that attachment bond, it actually fosters independence,” says Dr Branigan.

Is it healthy for a 7 year old to sleep with parents?

Experts do not recommend babies, toddlers, or even older children sleep with their parents.

Does co-sleeping make separation anxiety worse?

29 related questions found

At what age is co-sleeping inappropriate?

According to Liz Nissim-Matheis, a clinical psychologist in New Jersey, it's best to end co-sleeping when a person reaches puberty, or at around 11. “Once we get into that territory of bodies changing, that's when you really want to take a step back and say, 'What is going on here?

Is 7 too old to be sleeping with a parent?

There is no guideline for an age when co-sleeping should be stopped or started, just as there is no guideline for when comfort toys should be kept or discarded. These factors are largely driven by societal expectations and parents' own choice (which is of course, is influenced by society).

Is co-sleeping bad for separation anxiety?

Cross-sectional associations suggested higher levels of separation anxiety and sleep terrors in children who bed-share nightly, and difficulty maintaining sleep and sleep terrors in children who bed-share weekly.

Does co-sleeping create dependency?

Co-sleeping may contribute to dependency and separation anxiety in children. A prolonged reliance on co-sleeping may make it difficult for children to develop the confidence and skills necessary to sleep independently. This can create anxiety when faced with sleeping alone or in unfamiliar environments.

At what age is it inappropriate for siblings to sleep together?

It's recommended that children over the age of 101 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings. We know this isn't always possible.

What are the 7 B's of attachment parenting?

They advocate for a collection of seven practices they call the Baby Bs: “birth bonding, breastfeeding, baby-wearing, bedding close to the baby, belief in the baby's cry, balance and boundaries, and beware of baby trainers.”

What does science say about co-sleeping?

Currently, medical experts in the U.S. advise against co-sleeping in the form of bedsharing due to the risks of accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) or sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), while other sleep experts argue that risks of ASSB and SUID can be mitigated to provide a co-sleeping ...

What is the circle of security parenting?

The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is a attachment-based parenting education program that helps parents better understand and build on their relationships with their children. This program supports parents to: Understand their child's emotional world by learning to read emotional needs.

At what age should a child sleep alone?

Experts suggest that between the ages of 2 and 3 is a good time to start introducing the idea of solo sleeping. Children develop a greater sense of independence and may be more willing to explore their own space at this age.

Are babies who co-sleep happier?

While co-sleeping is known to reduce a baby's stress, it depends on the level. One study that asked parents about this subject found that children who had experienced one of two co-sleeping arrangements had lower anxiety levels at preschool age compared with those who had co-slept for less than six months.

Does co-sleeping affect attachment?

Although there is little evidence about the relationship between sleeping arrangement and infants' attachment style, based on the literature, sleeping arrangement is suggested to be a predictor of attachment style. Co-sleeping infants were more likely to become securely attached infants than sleep-alone infants.

Does co-sleeping make baby clingy?

A study in 2012 wherein 4 to 6-month babies participated and separated from their moms every night showed that babies' cortisol levels (stress hormone) remained high even on the third day of sleeping in a separate room. For parents who co-sleep and are concerned about their child being clingy or dependent, worry not!

At what age should you stop co-sleeping?

A pediatrician said co-sleeping should not happen before 12 months and should stop at prepuberty.

Does cosleeping cause codependency?

It also helps parents respond to every nighttime nursing call, quick crisis, and need for comfort that comes their way. But this doesn't create unhealthy codependency. It actually helps babies learn that their psychological needs will be met—whenever they need it, and as quickly as can be.

At what age should you stop cuddling your child to sleep?

The Appropriate Age to Stop Snuggling at Night with Kids

As children grow, their sleep habits change, and this includes their desire for bedtime cuddles. While there is no hard and fast rule for when to stop snuggling with your child at night, experts suggest that it is typically between the ages of 2 and 5.

Who is at risk for separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder in children under age 12. It affects about 4 in 100 children in this age group.

How to break a cosleeping habit?

  1. According to the revised co-sleeping guidelines: ...
  2. Gradually increase the space between you and your child. ...
  3. Bring your child's crib into your room. ...
  4. Move into your child's room (temporarily) ...
  5. Establish a consistent bedtime routine. ...
  6. Familiarize your child with his/her space. ...
  7. Try it for naptimes first.

Is it OK for a 12 year old to sleep with mom?

Clearly, you and your son are close and he still relies on you a great deal, especially at bedtime. It's OK to carve out time for pre-bedtime cuddles and even to let him climb into bed with you in case of a nightmare, but at this point, nightly bed sharing should definitely be phased out.

What are the long term effects of co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping with older children can be especially detrimental as it can create stress for the entire family, lead to poor sleep patterns for both parents and children, and inhibit the ability of children to develop independence.

At what age should kids sleep away from parents?

Toddler- in a separate bed, in the same room but away from being right next to the mother- as soon as the night time wakings reduce to 2/ night- 6 months- 18 months. Toddler/ child in a separate room- 18 months – 3 years (depending on the child's readiness and sleep pattern).