It’s a no-brainer that sleep is vital for one’s health. That is why so many researchers study the best way to get good quality shut-eye. However, forget chamomile tea and meditating before bed. According to new research, women sleep better next to dogs. That’s right; Canisius College in New York State conducted a study that found that canines make better-sleeping partners than humans or cats.
“We found that women commonly rate dogs as better bed partners than cats and human partners and report that their dogs enhance their sleep quality,” Christy Hoffman, Ph.D., animal behaviorist and lead researcher of the study.
Research Finds that Women Sleep Better Next to Dogs
Hoffman surveyed almost one thousand women living in the United States to come to these findings. The results showed that 55% of the participants shared their bed with at least one dog and 31% with at least one cat. Also, 57% of these women shared a bed with a human partner, while the rest did not. [1]
Hoffman also discovered why dogs seemed to make the best bed companions. The first reason is that dogs’ sleeping patterns, as opposed to cats, more closely resemble those of humans.
“The difference between dogs and cats is not surprising because dogs’ major sleep periods tend to coincide more closely with humans’ than do cats,’” said Hoffman.
However, while there may be benefits of these similar sleeping patterns, more research is needed to know for certain. But Hoffman has some ideas of how this could work.
“In comparison to human bed partners, dogs may be better at accommodating their human’s sleep schedule,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for human bed partners to go to bed at very different times and wake up at very different times. Such differences in partners’ schedules can certainly disrupt sleep. It may be that dog bed partners adapt more readily to their owner’s schedule than do human bed partners.”
Moreover, dogs require certain schedules and responsibilities, such as a morning walk. This kind of regime helps their owners maintain a routine, improving sleep quality as a result.
Stillness and Security
Additionally, dogs tend to stay stiff as they sleep. Anyone who’s slept with a fidgety partner knows how disruptive they could be. However, women in the study reported that their dogs stayed on the bed most of the night instead of felines, who tended to come and go.
“This suggests that cats may be more likely than dogs to create disruptions by moving on and off the bed during the night. In addition, we found that dog owners kept to more consistent bedtime and wake time schedules than cat owners and also tended to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier than cat owners,” Hoffman said.
Here’s the third and most important reason: Canines provide a sense of security to their owners. More so than with cats or even human partners.
“Some dog owners may take comfort in the thought that their dog will alert them in the case of an intruder or other type of emergency; furthermore, a dog’s bark may deter a potential intruder. A cat is less likely to take on this role, and so, may not provide psychological comfort in the same way a dog might,” said Hoffman.
The Best Partner for Quality Sleep
However, while the study suggests that dogs are the perfect slumber buddies, their benefits are subjective to each case. For example, a dog could snore or make the bed too hot. Additionally, there are many owners who find that their cats help them sleep.
Keep in mind that the research was based on how the volunteers perceive their pets’ effects on their sleeping quality and duration. As a result, more objective research is needed to definitively consider dogs the superior sleeping partners. However, Hoffman believes that these studies could be beneficial as many American households have pets.
“It will be valuable to continue this line of research so we can develop a clearer picture of the contexts under which pets and their presence in their owner’s bed may positively impact sleep quality, and the contexts under which co-sleeping with a pet may be detrimental to one’s sleep quality,” she said.
For instance, research has also shown that women sleep better while alone than with a human, but many believe in the opposite. Future research could use Fitbit-like devices to objectively track the sleep quality of people in different sleeping conditions.
First-time mom amazed as newborn lifts head and crawls across hospital cot
Three weeks past her due date, Nyilah Daise Tzabari made her grand entrance into the world with an eagerness to make up for lost time. At just three days old, she stunned her parents by lifting her head and crawling across her hospital cot.
Nyilah’s extraordinary strength left her first-time parents, Samantha Mitchell and Ofer Tzabari, in awe. Still in the hospital, the couple managed to capture the moment on video, showing their daughter doing things typically seen in much older babies.
“The video was taken when Nyilah wasn’t even a full three days old—she was only two and a half days old,” Samantha shared. A 34-year-old mother from White Oak, PA, Samantha was amazed, saying that despite her two decades of experience with children, she had never seen anything like it. “I’ve never had a newborn like this,” she added.
In the viral TikTok video, which has now garnered over 57.5 million views, baby Nyilah uses her tiny arms to prop herself up and crawl. In the background, you can hear Samantha’s mother exclaiming in disbelief, while Samantha herself is equally astonished, saying, “Oh my gosh. Mom! She’s crawling! How does that even move?”
Nyilah was born on February 27, 2023, weighing 7 lbs 6 oz. Samantha, who initially recorded the video to show family and friends, said, “If I didn’t get it on film, no one would have believed me, not even my fiancé, Ofer.” The video captures the exact moment Samantha witnessed her baby crawl for the first time, leaving her in complete shock.
Fans on TikTok were just as amazed, with many joking that “these new babies are different—they come out crawling and walking at one month old.” Others chimed in with lighthearted comments, saying, “Rumor has it she left on a plane the next day to live her life.”
According to Healthline, most babies start to crawl between six to 12 months, but Nyilah is clearly on a fast track. In fact, her quick development has continued since that viral moment. At 18 days old, she was already rolling from her belly to her back. By one month, she was smiling at her mom, and by two months, she was rolling from her back to her belly. At three months, she was even showing off her strength by playfully punching her mom in the face during a video.
Nyilah’s rapid growth hasn’t stopped there. She is already standing with support, and Samantha is confident that walking is just around the corner. “She puts so much weight on her legs and refuses to buckle her knees,” Samantha shared, adding that Nyilah no longer even needs her head and neck supported.
“She’s a very alert baby, and her strength has surprised us from day one,” Samantha said. At seven weeks, Nyilah began babbling and mimicking words spoken by her parents, even trying to say, “I love you.” She loves making noises to get a reaction, showcasing her playful and clever personality.
Nyilah is not just strong but also incredibly happy. “She smiles and laughs all the time,” Samantha said. “The second you smile at her, she lights up and smiles right back.”
For Samantha and Ofer, their daughter’s actions have been a pleasant surprise. “I thought this was normal for newborns, but it turns out Nyilah’s behavior is far from typical,” Samantha explained.
As Nyilah continues to grow and amaze, her family is preparing for even more milestones. With her rapid development, the future is sure to be filled with excitement. Samantha and Ofer’s “super baby” is already taking the world by storm, and we can’t wait to see what she does next! Congratulations to the happy family!
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