In The News - Rise In Infant Suffocation Tied To Bed-Sharing

Do you co-sleep? Then, if you haven't already, you may want to read an article I found on MSNBC entitled: Rise in infant suffocation tied to bed-sharing.

Are you pregnant and thinking about co-sleeping? Do you even know what co-sleeping is? Well, let's see if we can answer some questions today!!

What exactly is Co-sleeping?


Co-sleeping, also called the family bed, is a practice in which babies and young children sleep with one or both parents, as opposed to a separate infant bed. It has been widely practiced historically, is standard practice in many parts of the world, and is practiced by a significant minority in countries where infant beds are also used. There are conflicting views on its safety and health vis-à-vis a separate infant bed.

As a matter of fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a statement cautioning caregivers about hidden hazards for babies in adult beds. "Just as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has alerted parents and caregivers to the hazards of soft bedding in cribs, it is now alerting them to the hidden hazards associated with placing infants on adult beds. The CPSC has reports of more than 100 deaths of children under age 2, most from suffocation, associated with features of adult beds. These deaths occurred from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2001 and involve an entrapment, a fall, or a situation in which bedding or the position of the child was related to the death. Nearly all of the children, 98%, were babies under 1 year old."

Included in the statement are pictures of a "baby doll simulation" to show the possible dangers.

Entrapment Between Bed and Wall


Entrapment Between Bed and Object


Entrapment in Footboard
Additionally, according to the MSNBC article linked above; "Rates of sudden infant death syndrome, also known as cot death or crib death, have plummeted in countries where health workers have counseled parents and caregivers to put infants on their backs to sleep, to avoid keeping rooms too warm and to keep loose blankets and pillows away from infants.

"The data reflected this with sudden, unexpected infant deaths overall falling from 160 per 100,000 in 1984, or 5,885 total, to 92.4 in 2004 or 3,798 total.

"Rates of strangulation or suffocation, however, rose by 14 percent between 1996 and 2004.

"Most of the deaths that could be determined were by "overlay" — the parent rolling over onto the child."

However there are many advocates for co-sleeping, especially breastfeeding advocates. La Leche League released a statement regarding co-sleeping saying "Studies have shown that co-sleeping with a breastfeeding infant promotes bonding, regulates the mother and baby's sleep patterns, plays a role in helping the mother to become more responsive to her baby's cues, and gives both the mother and baby needed rest. The co-sleeping environment also assists mothers in the continuation of breastfeeding on demand, an important step in maintaining the mother's milk supply."

As a matter of fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a study which concluded that "Although there was a significant difference between bed sharing among African-American and Latin American parents compared with white parents, there was no significant relation between routine bed sharing and the sudden infant death syndrome."

So, how do you know what is best and safest for your child? The answer depends on the person and the family. As long as co-sleeping is done in a safe manner, there is nothing wrong with it and it gives many parents comfort to have their baby right next to them. You just have to decide what is right for you.

If you are thinking about or currently co-cleeping, here are some tips from Dr. Sears:

• Use an Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bassinet. An alternative to sleeping with baby in your bed is the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper®. This crib-like bed fits safely and snuggly adjacent to parent's bed. The co-sleeper® arrangement gives parents and baby their own separate sleeping spaces yet, keeps baby within arm's reach for easy nighttime care. To learn more about the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® Bassinet visit www.armsreach.com.


• Take precautions to prevent baby from rolling out of bed, even though it is unlikely when baby is sleeping next to mother. Like heat-seeking missiles, babies automatically gravitate toward a warm body. Yet, to be safe, place baby between mother and a guardrail or push the mattress flush against the wall and position baby between mother and the wall. Guardrails enclosed with plastic mesh are safer than those with slats, which can entrap baby's limbs or head. Be sure the guardrail is flush against the mattress so there is no crevice that baby could sink into.


• Place baby adjacent to mother, rather than between mother and father. Mothers we have interviewed on the subject of sharing sleep feel they are so physically and mentally aware of their baby's presence even while sleeping, that it's extremely unlikely they would roll over onto their baby. Some fathers, on the other hand, may not enjoy the same sensitivity of baby's presence while asleep; so it is possible they might roll over on or throw out an arm onto baby. After a few months of sleep-sharing, most dads seem to develop a keen awareness of their baby's presence.


• Place baby to sleep on his back.


• Use a large bed, preferably a queen-size or king-size. A king-size bed may wind up being your most useful piece of "baby furniture." If you only have a cozy double bed, use the money that you would ordinarily spend on a fancy crib and other less necessary baby furniture and treat yourselves to a safe and comfortable king-size bed.


• Some parents and babies sleep better if baby is still in touching and hearing distance, but not in the same bed. For them, a bedside co-sleeper is a safe option.

And some things Dr. Sears says to avoid:

• Do not sleep with your baby if:


1. You are under the influence of any drug (such as alcohol or tranquilizing medications) that diminishes your sensitivity to your baby's presence. If you are drunk or drugged, these chemicals lessen your arousability from sleep.


2. You are extremely obese. Obesity itself may cause sleep apnea in the mother, in addition to the smothering danger of pendulous breasts and large fat rolls.


3. You are exhausted from sleep deprivation. This lessens your awareness of your baby and your arousability from sleep.


4. You are breastfeeding a baby on a cushiony surface, such as a waterbed or couch. An exhausted mother could fall asleep breastfeeding and roll over on the baby.


5. You are the child's baby-sitter. A baby-sitter's awareness and arousability is unlikely to be as acute as a mother's.
   


• Don't allow older siblings to sleep with a baby under nine months. Sleeping children do not have the same awareness of tiny babies as do parents, and too small or too crowded a bed space is an unsafe sleeping arrangement for a tiny baby.


• Don't fall asleep with baby on a couch. Baby may get wedged between the back of the couch and the larger person's body, or baby's head may become buried in cushion crevices or soft cushions.


• Do not sleep with baby on a free-floating, wavy waterbed or similar "sinky" surface in which baby could suffocate.


• Don't overheat or overbundle baby. Be particularly aware of overbundling if baby is sleeping with a parent. Other warm bodies are an added heat source.


• Don't wear lingerie with string ties longer than eight inches. Ditto for dangling jewelry. Baby may get caught in these entrapments.


• Avoid pungent hair sprays, deodorants, and perfumes. Not only will these camouflage the natural maternal smells that baby is used to and attracted to, but foreign odors may irritate and clog baby's tiny nasal passages. Reserve these enticements for sleeping alone with your spouse.

Whether you decide to co-sleep or to have your infant in their own bed, the important thing is to make sure that everyone in the family is happy and healthy.