Co-sleeping, Doctors, and Death
The eternal co-sleeping debate. Does it ever end? This time I was sent a link to an article written by Dr. Cara Natterson with her thoughts on co-sleeping. It’s a fairly typical article, about exactly what you would expect from a pediatrician. I can’t fault her for toeing the party line, after all it is part of her job.
She lists three reason why the AAP feels that co-sleeping is dangerous, gives a nod to the parents who disagree, and throws in the “if you child is sick” exemption plan. Nothing really worth mentioning. In fact I only bring it up because a friend sent me an email last night asking my opinion on the article and on another story. It’s the second story that deserves the attention.
The story comes out of Columbus, Ohio where 4 separate cases of infants dying occurred. On the outside that doesn’t seem so odd. From SIDS, respiratory infections, accidental suffocations, to undetected physical problems many more than four babies die each day. Probably all in the same area also. However what set these four cases apart is that each child was sleeping with an adult at the time of death. This has, of course, lead to warnings of the dangers of co-sleeping being tossed around. Of course we don’t know exactly how these babies died yet, but the simple fact that all four so happened to be with adults sleeping leaves some pointing to co-sleeping as the obvious cause.
And yet if four babies in the same county all died and they were all in cribs I somehow doubt there would be much public outcry on the dangers of leaving infants alone in cribs.
Of course the coroner states that co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS, despite studies showing quite the opposite. Scare tactics are still great ways to sheep people into doing what you want them to do. Tell parents it will kill their children, even if there is no proof that it will or research that it might be safer, and the natural instinct to protect one’s children will kick in. If only parents were presented with facts instead of fears.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I have to say that I found your article just as biased in the opposite direction. How about if we have a full discussion of the subject from all directions?
The proponents of Safe Sleep for infants and SIDS Risk Reduction are pretty much on the same side as the Attachment parenting people with regard to the end goal. To assist parents in doing whats best for infants. However, the focus may be different.
It really comes down to a difference in the availability of information. I see the death reports on all the infants that die in my state. I see how babies are slept and whether or not they are being breastfed. I would be surprised if that is information that you get.
You see the successful side of attachment parenting, I see the unsuccessful side of parenting….with the worst possible results. I’m sure that you too are passionate on your subject.
As a parent who worked and exclusively breastfed 3 children, I feel very comfortable with the idea that we can raise healthy children with them sleeping in their own safe sleep space. That doesn’t necessarily mean down the hall or down the street. It means in their own space nearby.
In the U.S., we do not generally have beds like the rest of the world. We have quilts, pillow toppers, memory foam, pillows and lots of soft bedding. In fact, I have a Sleep number bed! Those are exactly the items that we have discovered are unsafe for infants. Being in a crib does not mean safety. Being in the adult bed does not mean death. But, we can definitely say that a safe crib - with no soft bedding in the parents bedroom is safer than being in an American style adult bed. When you review the death reports, the data is very clear. Do most infants die - NO! Most infants live. But, it is devastating when its your baby. Why take the chance? Everyone always assumes that the babies that die are “Those other people”. They must be drinking or smoking.. That can be true, but those people are just like you. They love their babies and are trying to do what’s best. As an exhausted new parent, we don’t always make the wisest decisions. Do you put your baby in a car with no car seat? I wasn’t in a car seat - yet I survived. Of course, you can put an infant in the adult bed and they can survive, but not all do. Not all survive in cribs. But, they are rarely safe cribs with infants placed on their backs.
As a parent, it’s your decision to make. Just don’t ever assume that it won’t be you.
June 28th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Pam, I’ve written before giving actual information. This wasn’t that type of article, it was one of frustration.
In my opinion the end goals of Attachment Parents and the end goals of the Safe Sleep for infants are not the same. The end goals of parents is to raise healthy children, the end goal of of them is to get more money from those who have a business built on selling more cribs and a dozen safety devices.
We’re going to have to agree to disagree.