Introduction Sleeping well is considered to be an important aspect of healthy growing up. Research has shown that numerous factors play an important role in determining the sleep locations and routines of the children all over the world. These factors could be socio economic status, availability of the space, family size and climatic conditions. In different cultures parents decide to let their children sleep alone, with themselves or with the siblings. In the United States there is a strong belief among a larger section of the population that solitary sleep is essential for inculcating a habit of independence. In the last decade the American Association of Pediatrics stated that it is more appropriate for parents to sleep with their children if the children need emotional support of some kind (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 26). Co sleeping and solitary sleeping is practiced all over the world. The aim of this paper is to study the different sleep patterns such as solitary or co sleeping in the United States of America and different cultures around the world. I will try to identify the reasons behind the choice of the parents in letting their child sleep alone or with a partner such as the parents, siblings or a caregiver. Main Body I will begin by examining the sleep patterns among different races in the United States of America as mentioned in the article “The Context of Preschool’s Children Sleep: Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Sleep Locations, Routines and Concerns” by Milan et al (2007). There are a number of factors that shape the sleeping location of the children. However research has shown that cultural beliefs related to child upbringing also play an important role in determining sleep patterns. In the United States a large population unanimously agrees on the current standard of letting the child sleep alone. The same belief is also supported in Germany. The basic purpose behind this belief is to led the child learn to grow independently and with autonomy. Independence and autonomy are characteristics believed to be associated with adulthood. In theses countries solitary sleep is viewed as a part of the training of growing up independently. On the contrary there are many countries such as the Mayan communities of Guatemala, where solitary sleep is believed as unnecessary “hardship” and is widely discouraged. Theses are places where interdependence and communal life is greatly valued (Milan et al, 2007, pg. 20). A study carried out in the United States showed interesting relationship between parental beliefs and sleep locations of the children. The researchers observed that despite the fact that Americans believe in letting the child sleep alone, there existed a difference related to sleep locations among different races living in the United States. The study included parents of White, African Americans and Hispanic children. Based on the observations it was concluded that White parents prefer to let their children sleep alone. Among Hispanics the preferable sleep location for children is with their parents and among African Americans with the siblings. A further study was carried out to evaluate the role of parental education and the availabilit