Latest sleep-sharing study sure to fuel sleep debate - but you can steer clear of the sleep wars

Expect the already heated sleep debate to become even hotter today, when a new study about sleep-sharing is presented at SLEEP 2009 in Seattle (the Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies).

The study, which was conducted by psychologist Jodi A. Mindell, PhD, of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, indicates that babies who sleep apart from their parents tend to sleep more soundly than babies who share sleep with mom and dad. Mindell found that babies who slept in a separate room slept longer, woke less frequently at night, had less difficulty falling asleep at bedtime, and were perceived by their parents as having fewer sleep problems.

I expect sleep safety and breastfeeding advocates to have plenty to say about the study.

After all, since 2005, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society have been advising parents to share their rooms with their babies. Room-sharing has been proven to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. And, for years, breastfeeding advocates have been making the case that breastfeeding is easier when babies share sleep with their parents.

I also expect parents will feel like they're being asked to choose between a good night's sleep (baby sleeps alone) and the health and well-being of their child (baby shares sleep with the parents) -- something that will only serve to fuel the feelings of frustration, anger, and guilt that many parents already feel about this perennial hot topic.

Rather than losing any more sleep over yet another sleep study, I suggest you pick up on one key message from this study -- children who are good sleepers have learned how to fall asleep on their own at a young age -- and figure out how you can apply that to your family's situation. That way, you can steer clear of the sleep wars. (Well, at least for now.)

So what's your take on this study - and sleep (or parenting) studies in general? Do you read them and look for something that applies to your family's situation? Do you ignore them? Do you talk with your friends about them? Do they ever make you feel angry or frustrated?