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Subscribe to RSSParents who let their young children climb into bed with them during the night may decrease their child's risk of obesity, a new study from Denmark suggests.
In the study, children who never entered their parents' bed during the night were three times more likely to be overweight compared with children who got into their parents' bed every night.
The findings are contrary to what might have been expected: obesity is associated with poor sleep quality, and kids who climb into bed with mom and dad are clearly waking up during the night, the researchers said.
However, parents who let their kids enter their beds at night may be giving their children a greater sense of emotional support, which may protect against obesity, the researchers said. In contrast, some children who are not allowed to enter their parents' bed at night may feel rejected, and such negative feelings may increase the risk of obesity, they said.
Dr. Nanna Olsen, of the Institute of Preventive Medicine at Copenhagen University Hospitals, and colleagues analyzed information from 645 children ages 2 to 6 who were predisposed to obesity because they had a high birth weight, their mothers were overweight before pregnancy or their families had a low income.
For about 500 of the children, information was available on whether the child entered the parents' bed at night, and if so, how often. In addition, researchers had information on the children's body mass index (BMI).
The study was presented today (May 9) at the European Congress on Obesity in Lyon, France.
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How about the fact that this is an OBSERVATIONAL ONLY study? Which means it pretty much proves absolutely nothing. Here's a theory I have with this data. Poor people often have more children and probably aren't as likely to let their kids into bed with them. While it's the people who are more affluent who are more likely to be over achievers and who have less kids and more guilt they don't spend enough time with their kids. Poverty is a leading cause of obesity. Affluence = better quality food, less cheap carbs and sugar.
How about the sleep quality for the parents? Won't they gain weight from having toddler toenails stuck in their backs all night?
Truth is, anyone who says they've done a 'study' about what causes or prevents obesity can get their name up in lights. I say wearing a red ribbon on your pinky toe makes you thinner because the thinnest person I know wears one. It must be statistically true then. Off to publish my 'study'!
I like a suggestion I once read in Dr. Mom, that a good compromise if your children want that closeness is to have a mattress or sleeping bag right near your bed in your room. That way, they are not actually sharing the bed (leading to poor sleep for you!), but they are much closer and likely feel more secure. My parents figure that I was probably cold in the night much of the time as a toddler or preschooler but they would often wake up to find me cuddled in between them. I wouldn't actually wake them up, so I guess it worked out for all of us...
Point being, you need to find out what works for you. If having your child sleep with you works, then it's okay, but if you can't stand it, maybe the mattress on the floor (with a blanket of course!) will work better. Or even just taking them back to their room and holding their hand or something while they fall back to sleep if they are frightened.
Funny, because every child I know who sleeps with their parents is overweight...every child I know who doesn't is thin. Seems contradictory. Parent swho allow their children to sleep with them are not better parents...I find them to be more permissive, less likely to "cut the cord", leading to children who have no idea how to self-comfort. I am no professional, but "studying" all of my friends/family, I can tell you that this is what I see. My children slept in their own beds, except for "special occasions" like severe breathing issues (asthmatic kids) and they are fully functioning, self-reliant teenagers. Friends and family who have kids that slept with them have kids who couldn't wipe their own butts before starting kindergarten, couldn't dress themselves, etc.