A new study shows that allowing children to sleep next to their pets can help them get a better night’s rest.
Researchers from Concordia University in Montreal analyzed data from 188 people between the ages of 11 and 17 about their sleeping habits and whether they had pets at home.
About half of the children who had a pet were “regularly sharing a bed,” say the authors, who wanted to know the effect on sleep quality.
They found that among study participants who “frequently shared a bed with their pet dogs, cats or rabbits” had better quality of rest than those who did not have a pet friend to sleep with.
The researchers suggest that this may be because children see their pets as a “close friend” and that having them with them can help calm night terrors.
Previously, limited studies showed a “bad association” between sleep in animals and sleep quality.
This was thought to be due to noise from the animal, or the risk of exacerbating the child’s respiratory problems, but the Canadian authors say this is not true.
They found that many pet owners found sleeping with a furry friend brings “rest and relaxation”, even though their study focused primarily on children.
As part of the research, they had young children take part in a one-night sleep study, measuring brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing, and eye and leg movements.
The children also had a wrist tracker to record their resting activity cycles, and had to keep a sleep diary for two weeks.
The team found that compared to children who sometimes or never slept with a pet, those who shared a bed with an animal had “the highest overall subjective sleep quality”.
Children who shared a bed with an animal also had better sleep overall than those who did not.
“Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that pet bed sharing may not adversely affect children’s and adolescents’ sleep,” the researchers said.
The researchers explain that adults’ sleep may be affected more negatively because they are generally larger and take up more space than children.
“The practice can be positive or negative depending on the strength of the pet’s attachment, the presence of anxiety or sleep problems, the consistency of the sleep routine, or the pet’s characteristics,” the team wrote in their paper.
A spokesperson for the RSPB said children form “very close bonds” with their pets, and studies have shown they can help children in their development.
“It is not surprising that pets can also provide a great deal of comfort and support for youngsters at bedtime.”
However, pets and young children can find it difficult to understand each other and it is essential that all interactions are supervised and pets are given the opportunity to move away to a quiet place to be on their own if they want to.
Researchers do not recommend sharing bed pets with infants or young children, but as children get older and better able to understand and recognize their pet’s behavior, it may be appropriate.
Source: Daily Mail