| Mother-infant bed sharing is a controversial practice that is passionately debated yet poorly understood. Literature suggests routine bed sharing is underreported in the United States and that it is increasing in prevalence. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand mothers' motives for sleeping with their babies and to generate a theoretical model that explains mothers' decision making process. Twenty-four bed sharing mothers from northeastern and central Pennsylvania were interviewed in-depth about their bed sharing practices, motivations, and experiences. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed through constant comparison until theory from the data was generated. Seven thematic maternal motives emerged; they were (a) child's physical needs and safety, (b) child's emotional security, (c) child's sleep, (d) maternal sleep, (e) nighttime breastfeeding, (f) maternal psychological security, and (g) maternal pleasure. A grounded theory that described the decision making process utilized by mothers who bed share was presented. Mothers moved through the process of recognizing needs, making decisions, attending to needs, and evaluating effects in order to meet their children's needs as well as their own. A basic social process of getting through the night intact was described. Effective public health initiatives to promote infant and child safety will consider the contextual influences of a mother's decision to bed share. Better understanding of mothers' motives and their decision making process may assist the health care provider in the provision of more sensitive, appropriate health care for children and their families. |
