Co-Sleeping and Sustainability: What BCBAs Really Need to Know
If you’ve been in the ABA world long enough, chances are you’ve encountered families who co-sleep. Maybe it’s a 5-year-old who curls up in their parents’ bed every night or a 9-year-old who’s never slept alone. And every now and then, someone on the team raises an eyebrow and says, “Isn’t co-sleeping bad?”
Here’s the short answer: No. Co-sleeping, in and of itself, is not inherently bad. The practice of co-sleeping—caregivers sharing a sleeping space with their child—has deep cultural roots and is common across most non-Western countries. In fact, in many parts of the world, the idea of a “Family Bed” (think mattresses on the floor for everyone to sleep together) is standard practice. It’s us in the West who are the weird ones, setting up nurseries, separate rooms, and enforcing bedtime independence as the gold standard.
So, What’s the Real Question?
The question we should be asking isn’t whether co-sleeping is bad. It’s whether co-sleeping is sustainable. And sustainability, my friends, comes down to asking families the right questions:
Is everyone in the bed sleeping well? Sleep quality matters more than sleeping arrangements. Is the child getting the duration and depth of sleep they need? Are the caregivers waking up refreshed, or are they dodging tiny feet and elbows all night?
Is co-sleeping aligned with the family’s values? Some families hold co-sleeping as a cherished cultural or personal practice. If it’s meaningful to them and works for their household, we must respect that.
Does the family want to make a change? Values evolve. A sleeping arrangement that once felt perfect may now feel impractical as kids grow, routines change, or caregivers reach a tipping point of “I haven’t had an uninterrupted night of sleep in years!”
Is there an actual problem? This is a critical one. If everyone is sleeping well and the family is happy, then it’s not a problem—and as I often say in The Sleep Collective: If it’s not a problem, it’s not a problem.
When Co-Sleeping Has Run Its Course
For some families, co-sleeping eventually hits its “shelf life.” Maybe it’s because a child wakes multiple times a night and can’t fall back asleep without caregiver support. Maybe it’s because no one in the bed is getting quality rest anymore. Or maybe the family simply wants to encourage more independence at bedtime.
Whatever the reason, supporting families through this big transition requires understanding, compassion, and strategy. It’s not enough to say, “Just put them in their own room!” We need to provide tools rooted in both sleep science and behavior analysis to ensure the transition is gradual, sustainable, and family-friendly.
This is where the role of a BCBA becomes essential—and where specialized training in sleep can make all the difference. As a Certified Behavioral Sleep Specialist (CBSS), you’ll gain the tools to assess sleep-specific behaviors, isolate core sleep problems, and develop individualized sleep plans that work for each family’s unique needs.
Why This Matters for BCBAs
When it comes to co-sleeping, we must leave assumptions at the door and meet families where they are. Understanding the science of sleep and pairing it with ABA principles allows us to provide effective, compassionate support. Whether a family wishes to maintain co-sleeping or transition to independent sleep, we can empower them with the right tools for success.
If you’re ready to level up your practice and support families navigating complex sleep challenges, The Sleep Collective certification program is here to help.
The Sleep Collective: Enhance Your Sleep Support Skills
As a Certified Behavioral Sleep Specialist, you’ll gain the confidence and competence to:
✅ Analyze sleep-specific behaviors and identify the core challenges.
✅ Develop sustainable, individualized sleep plans informed by the science of sleep and ABA principles.
✅ Rule out medical concerns and focus on ethical, evidence-based solutions.
✅ Provide caregivers with tools to support healthy, independent sleep habits.
If you’ve ever felt unsure how to tackle sleep challenges like co-sleeping, multiple night wakings, or bedtime resistance, this certification will transform your approach—and the lives of the families you serve.
Ready to make sleep support a cornerstone of your practice?
Enrollment for the next cohort is open now, and spots are filling quickly! Many companies subsidize the cost, and sole proprietors can claim it as a tax deduction. If you’re ready to bring meaningful, sustainable change to the families you work with, let’s talk.
📅 Schedule a free call today to explore how The Sleep Collective can elevate your skills and impact.
