Independent vs co-sleeping
Different studies show differences in sleeping patterns based on caregiving practices. Many Western societies, such as Germany and USA, emphasise independent sleeping practices, starting as early as 3-4 months of age, whereas countries like India and the Kokwet community in Kenya, promote interdependency and co-sleeping, with the child sleeping with the caregiver till 4-5 years of age.
Due to this, most Kokwet infants continue waking up every few hours at night for many months after most American infants have begun sleeping for longer periods of time (Super & Harkness,1986).
Babies
The episode on Sleep in the documentary Babies (2020) mostly depicts Western middle-class families where infants often sleep in separate cribs or rooms. The episode does not explicitly mention independent sleeping, however, through various scenes it is clear that this is what is practiced there. It reflects the broader Western values of independence that guide the childcare practices in those areas.
Proponents of independent sleeping believe that co-sleeping can spoil the child and pose a risk of injury (Keller, 2007). These values can label an infant with irregular sleep habits as a difficult child, ultimately becoming a cause of parental stress (Super & Harkness,1986).
As seen in the documentary, one of the moms says “Are you being naughty? You don’t wanna sleep at all.” This is also reflected in various instances where the parents talk about how stressful it is when the baby doesn’t sleep.
Negotiation vs Management model
In contrast to this, in cultures like that of Kokwet in Kenya, and Indians, infants mostly remain in constant proximity to their caregivers and commonly co-sleep. When an infant shows signs of fussiness, unlike most American parents, the caregiver does not engage in negotiations with the child, instead he or she responds promptly and manages the infant’s state, which ultimately leads to management of the social world. Their rhythms are merged into the collective social life rather than adjusted to fixed schedules. Autonomy is not the priority, social-cohesion is what is most important (Super & Harkness,1986).
While independent sleeping models usually consist of formal bedtime rituals or transitional objects (like blankets or toys) to prepare the child for sleeping separately, in co-sleeping models, such rituals are not very prevalent as infants simply fall asleep in the caregiver’s arms or in the middle of a social activity. Among the Nso, the routine involves dinner and storytelling before the family heads to bed together (Keller, 2007).
Sleep expectations as a result of infant’s changing capacities with age
The episode depicts a case in which in the early months, the caregivers responded to the infant’s needs during the night to ensure the infant goes back to sleep. This hints at a management model, in which the caregiver responds to the infant’s crying by feeding and changing diapers which leads to restoration of sleep. However, a few months later, a negotiation model can be seen at play when the caregivers say that it is time to put him to bed for a nap as he has reached his limit, which shows them asserting control over the baby’s routine.
The shift from management to negotiation and more structured sleep expectations can be a result of the infant’s changing capacities with age. As children grow, caregivers in such cultures may increasingly move from immediate state management toward routine-setting practices that encourage independence and agency.
Indian Context and influence of the West
In most parts of India, infants often sleep in the same bed as the caregivers. This collectivistic nature focuses on social-cohesion, interdependence and family bonds. Co-sleeping and close proximity are the dominant forms of caregiving practice here. It is closer to the Kokwet model. However, in some urban-middle class families, especially those influenced by the Western parenting model, autonomy in the form of separate cribs and sleep training may be more common!
Photo by Minnie Zhou on Unsplash.
Read more:
Keller, Heidi. (2007). The Social World of Infants. Cultures of Infancy. 10.4324/9780203936771
Super, Charles & Harkness, Sara. (1986). The Developmental Niche: A Conceptualization at the Interface of Child and Culture. International Journal of Behavioral Development. 9. 545-569. 10.1177/01650254860090040
Psyche Trail 