Sleep promotes growth, adequate daily function, and appropriate social interaction and behavior. In children with neurodevelopmental disorders, the biological pathways for successfully performing sleep skills may be altered and sensitivities to environmental stimuli exist, which disrupt sleep at a greater rate than the neurotypical population. For many years, prescribed enclosed beds have provided secure environments to sleep in, although the evidence has not been examined. A narrative review with a snowball search strategy utilized mainly Google Scholar and Scopus databases to research evidence on enclosed beds, expanding into searches on neurodevelopmental disabilities and sleep when a lack of results initially returned. The analysis included 72 sources creating three themes: enclosed beds with sensory features contribute to 1) sleep safety for disruptive behavior, 2) sleep safety for elopement, and 3) sleep quality regarding sensory processing. Findings suggest that enclosed beds with sensory features may contribute to improved sleep safety and quality; however, more rigorous studies are needed.
Cara E. Masselink (Wed,) studied this question.