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McCook Gazette
Editorial

Infants should not sleep with parents

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

If Mom and Dad are tired, it's tempting just to take a fussy baby to bed.

Family beds are common in other parts of the world, and with more and more families where both parents work, sleep is at a premium.

The baby certainly won't object, and although a couple's personal life may suffer, there are other times and places to meet those needs.

So, why not let everyone spend time together?

Because it endanger's the baby's life, according to Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joannn Schaefer.

"Bed-sharing increases the risk of suffocation and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)," Dr. Schaefer said. "Sleeping with an infant can be comforting to both the baby and the parents, but it can be deadly."

Officials have noticed with alarm that there have been six deaths in the past six weeks of Nebraska babies that appear to have involved co-sleeping with parents.

Between one-third and one-half of Nebraska infant deaths attributed to SIDS each year are associated with co-sleeping, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In 2006, of 20 sleep-associated or SIDS deaths, eight of the infants were known to be bed-sharing. Provisional data from 2007 show that of 13 sleep-associated or SIDS deaths, at least five involved bed-sharing.

In 2006, the Legislature passed a bill requiring hospitals, birthing centers and other medical facilities to show each mother and father a video and provide written information approved by DHHS on the dangers of SIDS, including having infants sleep in the same bed with adults or other children. It also includes information on the dangers of shaking children and measures to prevent SIDS. You can obtain the videos and brochures at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/sids/.

Meanwhile, Schaefer advises parents of infants to:

* Have nothing but the baby in the crib when he or she is sleeping-no bumper pads, blankets, toys or articles of clothing.

* Put a baby to sleep on a firm surface, not an adult bed or on a couch or futon.

* Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep.

* Provide a smoke-free environment. Exposure to secondhand smoke doubles a baby's risk of SIDS.

So, no matter how tempting it is to take junior to bed with you, resist. Place that tiny girl or boy in his or her own bed for a safe night's sleep.

Comments
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  • "Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep"

    I disagree with this statement. If he/she would coke on something this is the worst position to be in. Place the baby on its side in between two pieces of foam (they sell these at Walmart and they look like a wedge). They keep the baby from going on the back or front and they sleep so well!!! My baby is alive today because I had a wedgy

    -- Posted by FNLYHOME on Wed, Mar 26, 2008, at 1:18 PM

  • Rural, I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. I make my living doing research. I have studied SIDS more than anyone I know. For babies under 6 months sleeping on their back shows a significant decrease in SIDS. Other factors are: Parents not smoking in the house and babies sleeping without a blanket. The general thought on SIDS is suffication. Sleeping on their side or stomach can restrict the breathing process.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 5:48 AM

  • I completely disagree with the previous two comments. The Safest and Healthiest position for an infant to sleep on is their stomach.

    "I have studied SIDS more than anyone I know." Wallismarsh

    So, you read the 1990 ALSPAC Fleming report which John Kattwinkel used as the basis for his recommendations to change U.S. infant sleep position? You agree with that insanely flawed methodology? You've read all the reports on Developmental Delays that the "Back to Sleep" campaign causes and agree with Kattwinkel and Fleming that these delays are "transient"?

    The head of the U.S. SIDS Task Force for the last 17 years has been Dr. John Kattwinkel. He is the person who had U.S. moms switch from putting their babies to sleep on their stomachs/sides (90% of moms did this in 1992) to putting them on their backs (75% of moms in 2006). I was just wondering if anyone here knew that he had a child died suddenly at 3 days of age in 1966 and was wondering if being a mom that could cause you to be biased when looking at research? I was just looking for a moms perspective because when I do research it seems a lot of negative things are associated with the back sleep position and Dr. Kattwinkel uses the bully pulpet to bury them or dismiss them. I've listed a few quotes below as bacground information. Thank you for any help or insight you could offer me on this and I apologize for writing such a long comment.

    Does anyone think he could be biased?

    "Why should she be a beautiful, healthy-looking girl and be dead two days later?"

    Dr. John Kattwinkel on the death of his 3 day old baby daughter in 1966

    "The Academy was looking for someone who didn't have an agenda. So they chose me."

    Dr. John Kattwinkel on being chosen to head the 1992 American Academy on Pediatrics Task Force on SIDS Prevention

    "There are indications of a rapidly growing population of infants who show developmental abnormalities as a result of prolonged exposure to the supine position."

    Dr. Ralph Pelligra (Chief Medical Officer - NASA) regarding the impact of the Back to Sleep Campaign

    "Since the implementation of the "Back to Sleep" campaign, therapists are seeing increasing numbers of kindergarten-aged children who are unable to hold a pencil."

    Susan Syron, Pediatric Physical Therapist

    "I do not think it is a medical problem - it is more of a cosmetic one. Mothers may feel it is a syndrome and a problem when it really is nonsense."

    Dr. Peter Fleming, back sleep advocate, on his view of deformational plagiocephaly

    "The potential implications of a SIDS risk-reduction strategy that is based on a combination of maintaining a low arousal threshold and reducing quiet (slow-wave sleep) in infants must be considered. Because slow-wave sleep is considered the most restorative form of sleep and is believed to have a significant role in neurocognitive processes and learning, as well as in growth, what might be the neurodevelopmental consequences of chronically reducing deep sleep in the first critical 12 months of life"?

    Pelayo, et al. letter to the editor regarding 2006 SIDS Task Force Recommendations

    "Federal records show a dramatic decline in reported cases of SIDS, dropping from 4,895 cases in 1992 to only 2,247 in 2004, the most recent year for which complete data is available. The records reviewed by Scripps showed that cases of SIDS virtually disappeared in some states and cities over the last several years, but closer examination of the data makes it evident that thousands of those lives have not been 'saved,' but rather lost under another name. Coroners and medical examiners said SIDS was responsible for nearly 80 percent of all sudden infant deaths 15 years ago and only 55 percent in 2004. What increased during this time were diagnoses that CDC statisticians labeled as "threats to breathing" and 'other ill-defined causes of mortality.'"

    Bowman and Hargrove, Scripps Howard News Service

    -- Posted by Tom321 on Thu, Mar 27, 2008, at 9:56 AM

  • Please e-mail me at wmarsh@extex.net.

    I was advised by 5 doctors who explained the flaws of old studies etc. If you would like to discuss privately I will be more than happy. However, the weight of the evidence suggests to me sleeping on your back is best. I am an engineer and I find solutions to problems. I have no pre-conceived notions based on years gone by. 2 of the docs are in Arkansas, 1 in Pittsburgh and 2 in Houston. They all have greater than 20 years of practice and all have had infant patients die of SIDS so I value there opinion and guidance in reading material.

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Fri, Mar 28, 2008, at 6:48 AM

  • This is similar to the conversation "to breast feed or not". Sometimes parents are better off just trying what works best for them and watching their baby closely. Obviously, not any of the studies are 100% accurate. Thousand of babies are raised sleeping on their sides...they live; their backs...they live; and their stomachs...they live. Mother's instincts usually wins out. God will take a child if/when he feels its necessary. It sometimes has absolutely NOTHING to do with science.

    -- Posted by FNLYHOME on Fri, Mar 28, 2008, at 1:14 PM
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