RE: co-sleeping arrangements between a child and a parent

["Diana Winslow" <diana.w@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Nick,

I wish I could answer this question from a specific research standpoint, but
my experience as a seasoned clinician shows that it increases access and
globally reduces boundaries.

Instead of a child being approached by a perpetrator in the child's bed, the
child is conditioned to come to the perpetrators bed, or to bed with the
perpetrator. It makes it more difficult to establish intent when the
allegations of abuse are investigated.

Co-sleeping is presented as a nurturance or safety issue  for the child, to
those in and outside the family. The child victim learns to sleep with a
perpetrator from such a young age, it is the norm.

I think Finkelhor addresses this in the States as a NEST, creating an
environment conducive to assault. Probably Gene Abel of Atlanta has even
more definitive information.

I am curious if you find co-sleeping to be a childrearing norm in the UK
and/or Europe.

Diana Winslow LCSW
The Oklahoma City Indian Clinic

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu]On Behalf Of
Nick Richardson
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 8:56 PM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: co-sleeping arrangements between a child and a parent



I am after some literature on the subject of co-sleeping arrangements
between a child and a parent or a child and an older sibling in terms of
risk of harm to the child. I am mostly concerned with risk of
suffocation or compression, but would be interested in information
regarding co-sleeping as a risk factor for sexual abuse.

Literature that examines investigative approaches or risk assessment
policies and/or issues such as cultural practices, parental drug
use/abuse, and poverty would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick Richardson

--
National Child Protection Clearinghouse
Australian Institute of Family Studies