The expression to sleep with someone, implies to have sex. Perhaps this expression reflects a universal, unfilled childhood need to sleep next to one s parents and to be held during the night. Fortunately, the practice of sleeping with infants and young children is becoming more widely recommended and accepted in Western, industrialized nations, as parents begin to trust their natural inclinations to share their beds with their infants. Starting in the 1970 s a few books began to recommend that parents sleep with their babies. There are now many books that recommend bed sharing, commonly known as co-sleeping.
Babies have strong attachment needs that researchers are just beginning to understand.
The need for close physical contact, both during the day and at night, is a vital and legitimate need during the first few years. This may be true during the first few years when children need the closeness and security. However, we do not need to force children to become independent. This occurs of its own accord when children outgrow their early needs. The strong desire of human babies to sleep near their mothers may have its basis in our evolutionary history.