Why does the La Leche League International take such a strong stand on co-sleeping? I thought the focus was on breast feeding. I know of a recent local death due to co-sleeping, and I am sure others on the list know of cases. Why "dilute" an excellent adjunct to child rearing (breast feeding) with a potentially fatal and unnecessary practice? What's the point? Saying something like " There are ways to make co-sleeping safer" is the same thing as saying it must be un-safe to start with. And remember, we are promoting breast feeding to the un-washed masses. If you recommend co-sleeping to the un-enlightened, infants will die. Saying "Just because there have been accidents..." is saying "Just because a few babies died..." I think the use of the word "accident" is missing the point. Most people think you put Band-Aids on "accidents". You bury co-sleeping "accidents". Stick to the main program. Promote breast feeding. Make babies healthier - not at greater risk. As far as for the "authors who believe that co-sleeping may reduce the risk of SIDS" , remember when the articles pointing out the risk of SIDS associated with prone sleeping first appeared, lots of american experts were poo-pooing it saying it did not apply to AMERICAN babies. Right. Beware of experts with vested interests. -g barden JVandenberg wrote: > > There are ways to make co-sleeping safer. Just because there have been > accidents does not mean that the whole practice of co-sleeping should be > abandoned: > > - if using alcohol, recreational drugs, or medications that cause > drowsiness, or are experiencing extreme exhaustion, a parent may find > that they are less likely to be aware of baby?s presence in the bed. If > partner is less responsive or aware, can avoid placing baby between > parents and place baby on the other side instead. > ? mattresses - it may be of benefit to use a firm mattress with well > fitting covers > ? minimize the use of extra pillows and blankets which could reduce the > airflow to baby > ? waterbeds can be a hazard - can reduce the risk by adding a firm > board under baby. > ? avoid falls - can place the bed against the wall & place child > between mother and the wall, use a crib or a safety rail beside the bed > or place the mattress on the floor. Beware of entrapment dangers and pad > any spaces. > -remove headboard or footboards if they have bars with spaces larger > than 6 cm > ? use couches with caution - baby may become caught between gaps in > cushions > ? very large breasted or very obese mothers may need to use careful > positioning of baby at the breast if sleeping while baby is nursing to > ensure baby has a clear area to breathe. > ? adjust sleeping arrangements as needed as baby develops new skills - > rolling over, crawling, climbing > > There are authors who believe that co-sleeping may reduce the risk of > SIDS. > References: > > McKenna, Sarah Mosko, & Christopher Richards > > Breastfeeding infants have more arousels while cosleeping & spend less > time in the deep stage of sleep from which some infants have difficulty > arousing. When a period of apnea occurs, the baby will arouse to breath. > A baby who has difficulty arousing may be at greater risk for a SIDS > event > Cosleeping regulates infants breathing, sleep state, arousal patterns, > heart rates, & body temperature. > > McKenna, J., Babies Need Their Mothers Beside Them, [Online] Available > March 25, 1999: http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/james_mckenna.html. > > McKenna, J., Rethinking "Healthy" Infant Sleep, [Online] Available March > 25, 1999: > http://www.parenthoodweb.com/library/RethinkingSleep.htm > > McKenna, J., Mosko, S., Dungy, C., McAninch, J., Sleep and arousal > patterns of co-sleeping human mother/infant pairs: a preliminary > physiological study with implications for the study of sudden infant > death syndrome (SIDS), Am J Phys Anthropol, 83(3):331-47 1990 Nov. > > McKenna J; Mosko S., Richard C., Bedsharing promotes breastfeeding, > Pediatrics, 100(2 Pt 1):214-9 1997 Aug. > > McKenna J; Mosko S; Richard C; Drummond S; Hunt L; Cetel MB; Arpaia J, > Experimental > studies of infant-parent co-sleeping: mutual physiological and > behavioral influences > and their relevance to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), Early Hum > Dev, > 38(3):187-201 1994 Sep 15 > > Sears, W. SIDS: A parents guide to understanding and preventing sudden > infant death syndrome, New York: Little Brown & Company, 1995. > > Janet Vandenberg BScN, RN, IBCLC >