Article: Bad Advice Puts Babies At Risk

[Mrs Jak]

It was so wonderful to co-sleep with oue DD for the first 3 months! I had to move her in to her cot though, 'cause I found I would wake up really stiff from laying in the one position. I would consider doing it again next time and I would also consider one of those little baby beds with the night light and all, that lays on your bed. Does anyone have one?

Do these people think that mankind always had cots?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Bath, interesting about the tummies... DS has always had a strong neck, held up his head the day after he was born (too drugged up to do so on the day) and DH is a definate tummy sleeper. DS hates back sleeping so I may see what the tummy does for him tonight - anything for more than half an hour's sleep at a time! My main insistence with back/side sleeping is that I hate that DH won't cuddle me on his front and I dont want my future DiL to go through those arguments with DS! I hate front sleeping and no cuddles - DS WILL cuddle me LOL. Oh yes, and his future wife. Very selfless of me.

Dee, my DH is on the skinny side and won't co-sleep in case he squishes DS. It's awareness, not weight, that's the problem - I think mothers are naturally more aware of babies than fathers in a lot of cases. I'm a bad mother for covering DS with the duvet, I'm sure (then again, I'm a bad mother for co-sleeping full stop, if you listen to some evil witches), but it's what works for you.

[Coolabahdee]

Actually it was aimed at very overweight Parents sleeping on either side of a baby sandwiching that baby in, I have read reports of a baby that died that way in the USA on a another message board in the USA when i had my DD.
Also a very overweight woman who unsafely coslept on the lounge

It certanly wasnt a comment of any kind saying anything about bad mothers

And it wasnt about being overweight or very overweight I should say it was more about then needing to follow the guidelines because of it.. Which I still think is a fair comment...

Well actually Caro this is what you wrote, the last line is what I took offence to. You clearly stated that co sleeping with very overweight parents is not safe co sleeping. Which implies that very overweight people who co sleep are bad parents for co sleeping in the first place. What you're saying is that it's okay aslong as one of the parents isn't overweight. As I stated my DH is of an athletic build, you'd be very hard pressed to find an once of fat on him, but he is the deepest sleeper and he tosses and turns and snores all night long, I would never leave a baby in bed with him cause he is likely to roll on him. People who are heavy sleepers probably shouldn't co sleep more so than people who are fat. You didn't say anything about sticking to the guidelined in that post although in retrospect I'm sure that's what you were impling. My problem was with the last added rogue statement in this particular post. Which I have already apologised for misunderstaning you.

Ooooh Chloe how scary and yep that is what Co Sleeping is all about...I know what you mean when our DD Went to her own room at 15mths I freaked she had the breathing monitor under her and sound on as well heh heh ! until she went into the toddler bed
But she is the most confident sleeper and we have no problems

Aurora that is correct Overweight, really tired or intoxicated between two of them with soft mattresses and coverings IS A dangerous situation.

You need to have a Firm Matress , bubs in their own grobag for warmth and not inbwetween two parents but on one side of one parent

And sorry to say but co sleeping with very overweight parents is not safe co sleeping

Ryn exactly right it is awareness not weight that is the problem.
Dee

Proudly Co sleeping since 1996

[Smoke Jaguar]

I'm glad we cleared that up, chickies
At least our babies will be less likely to have issues with sleeping in the dark!

[Liz]

This is on the sids & kids site:

Research has shown that the risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents increases in the following circumstances.

• If a parent who smokes bedshares with their infant
• If a parent is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that cause sedation
• If a parent is excessively tired
• If other children share the bed with an infant
• If the infant gets caught under bedding e.g. pillows and duvets
• If the bed is a water bed or if the mattress is too soft
• If a parent falls asleep with an infant on a sofa
• If an infant gets caught between the bed and the wall or falls off the bed
• If the infant is rolled on

Research in New Zealand and the UK has shown that sleeping baby in the same room, but not in the same bed, with the parents in the first six to twelve months of life is protective. This is thought to be because parents can see the baby and easily check to see that baby is safe. This protective effect does not work if the baby is in the room with other children probably because the children do not know if an infant is safe or not.

Never sleep baby on a soft mattress, couch beanbag, or waterbed with or without a parent as there is a very high risk of a sleep accident.

No mention of parents being overweight? I would think one of the above factors came into it rather than it being a weight issue if something went wrong.

Can someone point me to these 'guidelines' that are supposed to be followed? I kinda agree, that co-sleeping is natural and instinctive rather than something you need to follow rules on (the guidelines on the SIDS site are common sense really) We didn't co-sleep until DS was about 7 months or more. Will probably co-sleep earlier with the next one, now we have more confidence in it. I was always a bit nervous when he was tiny. But he's always been between the 2 of us, and under our covers (well... as under as I can get him to stay! LOL - he wriggles his way out most of the time)

ETA: Just wondering - do those of you who co-sleep with subsequent children change your own mattress for each child just like the 'guidelines' say to get a new cot mattress for each child?

[Liz]

hehe - still no mention of overweight!

Well, the thing with changing the mattress is a buildup of bacteria etc.. you can't tell me adult mattresses don't get the same buildup - if not more, coz of 2 people using it etc etc.

I'm not actually getting a new cot mattress - nor would i spend the money on a new queen mattress! I was just wondering how strictly people follow "guidelines"

[Smoke Jaguar]

We've got latex, because (as a firefighter) when you see a few lots of furniture burn and you know why you are wearing breathing apparatus, it gives me the heebie jeebies to think that I sleep in that! I know I won't be sleeping in a burning mattress (duh!), but I just decided that it was one of a few reasons to go natural. That and my concerns about the synthetic estrogens in PVC. So, it's quite apart from SIDS, and my mattress choice is an accidental compliance with the 'guidelines'!

[Smoke Jaguar]

Ha! Madness wouldn't be too off the mark!
It's a recognition of part of my heritage, which is Mayan, from Central America. I guess I haven't gone to much effort thus far to incorporate it into my life and it's just high time I did I have been thinking of a new username for over a year!