Co-sleeping-parents and children sharing a bed-can be a fraught topic for parents. Some experts recommend parents never bring children into bed with them, while other experts extol the benefits of parents and children sharing a sleep space. Given the importance of sleep to our well-being, the topic can generate such strong feelings and controversy that parents can be afraid to share their experiences.

Co-Sleeping takes readers inside the reality of co-sleeping for a diverse range of families in America, with varying family structures, races, incomes, and education levels, and with children from infants to teens. Drawing on original research and extensive interviews with real parents-both fathers and mothers-author Susan Stewart goes beyond the fads and vehement arguments for or against co-sleeping to look at what actually happens, and the impact of co-sleeping on families-for better or worse.

Susan D. Stewart is professor of sociology at Iowa State University. She is author or co-author of several books including Co-Sleeping: Parents, Children, and Musical Beds, Marriages, Families, and Relationships, Brave New Stepfamilies, and Multicultural Stepfamilies. Her research focuses on gender, family diversity, parenting, and children and adults' physical, social, and emotional health. She has published articles on a range of topics in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Marriage and Families, Journal of Family Issues, Demography, and Journal of Gynecology and Women's Health. Dr. Stewart resides in Ames, Iowa with her husband, daughter, and three cats.