The study includes "Beds, cribs and couches", so what percentage of deaths were contributed to couches and beds vs. cribs with too much bedding? And had the parents had any medications or alcohol that would impair their ability to wake up?

I slept in a bed with my baby for the first four months. I woke up anytime she moved or changed her breathing rate and I was NOT a light sleeper before having my daughter. I still think it's possible to safely sleep in the same bed and plan on doing the same if/when we have a second baby.

Co-sleeping has been around as long as people have and is the norm in most parts of the world. Co-sleeping is safe when done safely. The research/article should clearly state what portion of deaths were attributed to beds and under what conditions before suggesting that co-sleeping is unsafe.

"What does the research say? The September/October 2002 issue of Mothering Magazine presents research done throughout the whole world on the issue of safe sleep. Numerous studies are presented by experts of excellent reputation. And what is the magazine's conclusion based on all this research? That not only is sleeping with your baby safe, but it is actually much safer than having your baby sleep in a crib. Research shows that infants who sleep in a crib are twice as likely to suffer a sleep related fatality (including SIDS) than infants who sleep in bed with their parents." (Source: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T102200.asp)

I cosleep and have 4 children from 18 DOWN TO 2 all of my children stayed in my bed till they were ready to leave it which was at about 5 years I do currently cosleep with 2 year old and will till he too leaves me.It is a natural thing for a mother to sleep with the babe.The majority of the population sleeps safefly with their children.Its sad to have a terrible event and tragic thing happen but they also happen in schools at the park in the car, planes fall from the sky yet we need to to blame someone or thing .I wont tell the mother monkey she can not sleep with her babe in the tree because its not safe ,thats how they sleep and thats what mothers have been doing for millions of years naturally.The natural way is what fits each family not what goverment scientist think...make a family friendly bed instead ...They surely would sell like hot cakes

This article does not state any actual data. The study referenced did not pinpoint a cause but assumed co-sleeping was the cause. I have been sleeping with my 7 month old son since he was born. I agree with the Erica that I know his every move. She also pointed out the other item that these studies don't often mention - alcohol, drugs, or very obese adults are often involved in these infant deaths. I recommend reading:

https://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/149.html

I thought Consumer Reports would publish an article based on facts not assumptions. I am disappointed in Consumer Reports.

You fail to show any evidence that the rise in infant suffocation deaths is attributable to parents sharing beds with their babies. Without evidence, your headline could just as accurately read, "Dramatic increase in number of infant suffocation deaths may NOT be attributed to bed sharing."

It's virtually impossible for a parent to suffocate a baby unless that parent is impaired by alcohol or drugs (including pain medication). In the rare event that an UNIMPAIRED parent is preventing the baby from breathing, the parent will be awakened by feeling the baby struggle as it tries to breathe. Small children will not respond in the same way and should never sleep with a baby.

The real issue, therefore, if you want to sleep with your baby is to make sure that there is nothing dangerous in the baby's environment (e.g. pillows, blankets, etc.) and to be sure that the baby cannot fall between the mattress and wall, for example. We moved the mattress from the spare bedroom to the middle of the floor of the masterbedroom for me and the baby.

If it's important to you, you can come up with ways to make it safe to sleep with your baby.

A letter to the journal suggests that the authors of that study may be using faulty data:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters/123/2/533#41179

Both of our older children shared our bed and our newborn probably will too. Rather than simply stating "sharing your bed is too risky" which many will not accept how about looking at possible risk factors like mattress firmness, quantity of bedding, drinking too much alcohol or taking sleeping pills.
It seems very sad to me that parents are being told that it is too risky in every circumstance to fall asleep with their babies.

I agree with Erica. This study does not seem to "prove" the conclusion you are making. Shame on you for pushing your own agenda instead of reporting just the facts. FACT: Infants are susceptible to strangulation deaths. FACT: With increased attention to the sleeping environment infant deaths may be avoided. Now of this leads one to conclude that co-sleeping is the culprit. Most of the co-sleep deaths that I have read about report the parent as intoxicated, etc.

I slept with all four of my children for years. Believe me--a sober, healthy mom wakes up when her newborn makes even a small peep. Instead of saying no to co-sleeping perhaps we need to educate parents when not to co-sleep for example if they are taking a medicine that causes grogginess.

Come on CR you can do better. Don't sensationalize-report.

What percentage are co-sleeping or bed sharing safely? How many are on medications, alcohol, smoke or are overly tired? How many are with people that don't know the baby is there? How many have other kids in the bed or too much bedding? How many are from using a couch or too much bedding in the crib?

I have bed shared with my daughter for most of her 16 months. I was a heavy sleeper before she was born and now I wake up at the slightest change in her position, breathing, etc.

I think this is too alarmist and doesn't address the issue of how to bed share or co-sleep safely. Or the fact that more and more people are putting their babies to sleep in cribs overstuffed with comforters, bumpers, toys, and blankets.

It is not scientific to say that because two things increased at the same time one of them must be the cause of the other. You could prove all kinds of ridiculous things that way.

I am a registered nurse and have read of these tragic stories for years. Talk to people who have a little ER experience. I can not believe the comments posted by the readers of this article. And, of course, written by parents who all slept with their children. If one child is lost because of sleeping in the bed of an adult that is one child too many. You can be educated and still not learn apparently. Put your baby in a safe place (with no bumper pads, stuffed animals, pillows and blankets) and try sleeping with your husband instead. You make it sound like you love your child more if the baby sleeps with you. Obviously not since your willing to play the odds. "LT" you probably believe in global warming too. When researching a topic try the pro/con approach. You might learn the whole story. Not just the part that you want to believe.

In reality there is one piece of data in this article which is most disturbing. The CDC is saying that blacks are 5 times more likely to kill their children in bed than whites. If this doesn't infuriate parents of both races then we'll all deserve the outcome of this study and others like it.

I immediately think of risk/benefits. My babies slept right next to the bed. They were adopted so they weren't breast fed. I immediately got up when they moved more than stirring and moved to the feeding rocking chair in the next room so I wouldn't awaken my spouse who was a doc and needed his sleep since so much of it was interrupted anyhow. This was in the 60's when Dad's pretty much left the early parenting to the Moms. My kids did very well and are still doing well as adults.

If the rick of injury to the baby is greater than the benefit which is seems it might be, I certainly wouldn't co-sleep. What strategy is worth the life of a beloved infant?

We have always had an open-bed policy at our house. If the kids are scared at night and need to crawl in our bed, no words exchanged, they crawl in and fall back to sleep. With my older boys, they rarely ever come in now, only once in a great while for an occasional bad dream. With my three year old, he loved, from day one to sleep next to me. I was so tired that I opted to nurse him back to sleep lying down in my bed. It was the most peaceful feeling to lull baby asleep. My three year old still sleeps with us on occasion, but usually we take him to his own bed once he falls asleep. I truly feel to do what feels natural to a mother and a child. Sometimes all this research doesn't beat a mom's feeling of what's right for her and her baby.

Mother of Four --

You make some judgmental comments here, but as a registered nurse, I'm sure you're aware that children die in cribs, as well. Sleeping with baby is a good way to keep tabs on the child and in the case of my nephew, his parents saved his life when he stopped breathing and turned blue in the middle of the night...something they would not have been aware of if they hadn't been sleeping with him.

I disagree with you "LT" on the fact you believe that its safer for a baby to sleep in a parents bed. I don't care what any study says! its not based on actually happenings. I hope no parent believes it is safe and ok to put your baby in bed with you because IT IS NOT!!!!!!! My grandson died Jan 24 2009 because his mother put him in her bed in the middle of the night with her and her boyfriend. My grandson suffocated and was dead when they awoke. I watched them at the hospital spend a hr trying to bring him back, which he was already gone. I will never get the moment out of my head when I held my 7 mnth old sweetie dead in my arms with his face all blue. Please don't ever think it can't happen to your baby. I know the mother wishes every sec that she could take that night back. Everyone needs to stop and think of what I just said when you go to put your baby in your bed tonight or any night. Plus if its so much safer why is she being prosecuted for it?????????

oh my Erica please do not sleep with your second baby

This just happened at our house. My niece came to visit with her Mom and her 12 day old infant son. He was seen by the doctor the day they left New Mexico for Arizona and were given the O.K. to travel with him. The niece was sleeping with the baby in her bed - she is breastfeeding. I thought that was kind of strange since I was always told that it was dangerous and the baby could suffocate. Early in the morning Sunday, the niece was breastfeeding her son, and her mom (the grandma) said she would take him and change him. When she took the baby from her daughter's breast, she noticed that he was not breathing and his lips were blue! She called 911 and her brother (my husband) gave the baby mouth-to-mouth and started chest compressions with two fingers. The paramedics arrived in less than 5 minutes. The baby still was not breathing when they left, but they got a pulse on the way to the hospital. This little baby is presently on a respirator, and we are just hoping for a miracle. I can tell you this...the mother is not obese. She was not drunk or on drugs. The baby didn't have any medical problems. Is it worth taking the chance that something like this could happen?

Dr Martin Seligman slept with all 5 of his kids as babies. He was president of the American Psychological Association by the largest vote margin ever. He is the 13th most cited of all psychologists.

I say that you should not sleep with a child if you are drunk or on drugs (that means any medication). Otherwise, I grew up sleeping with kittens and cats and I was always aware of not to roll on them even while sleeping.

hey i feel your pain my son just passed away. and he was only 1 month old. and ya i laid him in my bed. on his side and and it was only for 3 hrs. and when i got up he had blood out his nose. and was not breathing so when i got him we tryed breathin in him and he was tryin to breath. i called 911 and they took there sweet time. and when they got here they just grabed him and took him in the hospital. and the doctor told me that he had to let the doctors stop workin on him. he was not breathin still and there was nothin more that they can do. it hurt so bad and now i sit here thinkin what could of i did to prevent it. now i just have to keep tellin my self that hes with god. and its hard. when i see other babys i start to cry and i dont care who sees. im just waitin for the optopsy. but i know that i didnt do any thing wrong. i just know how u feel. but my bsby would only sleep on his side. not no other way or he will cry.

i was always a light sleeper until pregnant with my third child as soon as i hit the pillow i was out. my life wasnt that hard but had extreme sleep issues since a child. i was always tired but a lite sleeper always felt my babys every cry or movememnt until one nite i didntl,t even know i got up and got him betweem 4:00 and 8:30am woke to find blood and foam on my babys nose i don't underderstand or know why and really don't have the results from autopsty yet but but i wasnt on drugs or drank any accoholic drinks but did wake up on couch with my dear sweet liiltle guy so know matter what all the studies say they don't count gods plan.