Dormir amb els pares: Prevalenca i factors associats en una poblacio de 6 a 36 mesos d'edat

Background. We describe the habit of sleeping with the parents (cosleeping), among a group of young children, and we analyze the associated factors. Method. During the month of November 1995, the parents of 685 children aged between 6 and 36 months answered a questionnaire related tho their children's sleeping habits. The study was done simultaneously in Lyon (France) and Barcelona (Spain). The statistical analysis was performed using descriptive and inferencial methods. Results. Among the 569 children who were eligible for the analysis, 36 (6.33%) were reported to sleep with their parents, and 41% of them did it 4 or more nights per week. The incidence of this habit increased with age and was associated with a worse quality of sleep: children that coslept, used to spent more time falling asleep, had a shorter duration of sleep, and woke up more often during the night. 47% of the parents who sleep with their children believe that their children have a sleep disorder. Cosleeping is the sleep-related habit that originates more consultations to the health professionals. Conclusions. The habit of sleeping with the parents is associated with sleep disturbances in children and with a negative perception by the parents.