As a practice, sharing a bed with an infant can be very dangerous. Last week, the British Medical Journal published a report on SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) in which more than half of the 80 SIDS infants studied were co-sleeping with an adult. The researchers also found a strong correlation between the deaths and drug and alcohol use on the part of the caregiver.
We’ve reported on the hazards of co-sleeping with infants in the past and were criticized by many parents who feel the benefits of bed sharing outweigh the risks. Previous research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that infants younger than eight months old who were placed to sleep in adult beds were as much as 40 times more likely to suffocate than if they were placed to sleep in cribs. That is a disturbing statistic.
Bedside sleepers have the potential to make the practice of co-sleeping with infants safer, provided the products themselves don’t pose a risk. Still, if a gap forms between the adult bed and the bedside sleeper, a baby can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle. There have been a significant number of injuries and fatalities with co-sleepers sold as recently as last year.
We’ve advised against the purchase of bedside sleepers and other co-sleeping devices pending the development of an adequate safety standard. ASTM, which sets voluntary safety standards for industry to follow, has made some progress and we hope that we can soon remove our warnings about these products. In addition, the CPSC recently announced plans to promulgate mandatory regulations for bedside sleepers beginning in 2011.
Our take: Until acceptable regulations or standards are developed, our position remains steadfast: The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a full-size crib, without drop sides or soft bedding, which pose their own hazards.—Don Mays
Excellent article. Please keep us posted on the standards that are being created.
You write "Previous research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that infants younger than eight months old who were placed to sleep in adult beds were as much as 40 times more likely to suffocate than if they were placed to sleep in cribs. That is a disturbing statistic. "
I agree that us an alarming statistic, but I don't think this number is really that helpful. All the "cosleeping" studies I've seen fail to look at different ways to cosleep. Yes, putting a baby to sleep in an adult bed be unsafe, if the adult is not present, if there is a sibling in the same bed, if the bed is not prepared properly, and if the adult with the child is not the primary caregiver. Cribs are unsafe if pillows/blankets/stuffed animals are used, the side is left down, the mattress is in the wrong position, the sheets are not secure, screws are loose, etc. And, of course, like you mentioned above, many cosleeping deaths are linked to drug and/or alcohol use.
Please stop telling people not to cosleep (as most patents will do so at one time or another out of necessity, convience, or desire). Instead, start a discourse on how to do so safely, cognitively, and with intent. Cosleepers are great, and I'm happy to hear that safety standards are being developed, but not every child will sleep on one all night - mine wouldn't.
I PURCHASE A ARM REACH BABY CO SLEEPER FROM BABY R US
MY 9 WK OLD GRAND DAUGHTER TOE GOT CAUGHT IN THE MESH
AND CAUSED SKIN TO BE TORN OFF & BRUSING.. THANK GOD
NOTHING MORE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FINGER THAT THE CIRCULATION
COULD HAVE BEEN CUT OFF. PLEASE I DON'T MIND PAYING A GOOD
PRICE FOR A SAFE PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN TESTED BUT THIS IS
NOT ACCEPTABLE...... SHAME ON THE MFG & THE STORE...
UPSET GRANDMA......NEVER MIND THEY WANTED 16.00 FOR THE LITTLE
SHEETS THAT FIT THE DAM THING WHICH I BOUGHT......ENOUGHT IS ENOUGHT
I like Allison's remarks and would like to add some ideas. I read numerous articles a few years back about co-bedding, and there are already many known safety rules. If these are ignored or unknown the baby will be in greater danger in an adult bed than in a crib. However, when all safety practices are adhered to they've shown that babies can in fact be safer beside their mothers. There were studies conducted in Australia, Japan, and a few other countries as well in which the factors involved in any baby's sleep related death were noted. When broken into three groups: Co-sleepers following known safety precautions, Crib sleepers, and Co-sleepers not following safety standards the Crib sleepers fell right in the center. Their were more SIDS and suffocation deaths in the crib sleepers than the safety wise co-sleepers, but a higher death and injury rate among the safety careless co-sleepers. I think one of the biggest differences there is the intent of the parent when choosing to co-sleep. If it was a carelessly made decision it will be carelessly carried out; the reverse holds true as well. The more vigilant any parent is in general the safer their children will be. So don't just scare people, educate them, make it easy to learn the safe way to rest a baby (regardless of where they are put down).
1. In general if you haven't slept with the baby since birth DON'T - at birth a Mother (MOTHER, not brother, sister, or even very loving fathers) are instinctively aware of their baby's body, breathing, etc - even while asleep themselves. However!! if put the baby in a crib you lose this finite awareness. So if the baby is not Usually a co-sleeper they are SAFER in their crib!
2. Until at least 18months of age No-One but the mother should sleep beside the child. A mother and baby's sleep cycles, and body rhythms are very in tune- no one else will be as aware. There are exceptions where even the Mother should NOT sleep with their baby. If you can sleep through a freight train than even after you've given birth you should NOT sleep beside your baby. If you are especially sleep deprived (as can happen with a baby) and find that it's difficult to wake, put the baby in a crib. If you are on Any Drugs - even physician prescribed you need to ask if they will affect your sleep cycle- if there's even the slightest chance that it will leave you impaired put the baby in a crib!
3. The bed should be as judiciously checked and rechecked for safety as a crib would be. Ideally put the mattress on the floor (the only trouble with that is that body moisture can build up on the mattress- as an alternative that is safer for baby and still good for the mattress, there are manufacturers that sell 2" tall wood slat foundations (like a box spring)- with a short mattress that would mean the bed was only 8" off the ground. If the mattress is on a regular foundation be certain there are No gaps between the mattress and frame or the bed and the wall. If the bed is raised use guard rails that will fit the bed Without any gaps. Rather than bedside bassinets, a crib with a side removed and then strapped securely to the bed is safer (be certain there is no gap between the crib and bed). At the present it is difficult to find an appropriate bedside crib :( I really hope that as awareness grows this will change, in the meantime the bed on the floor is safest.
4. Do not allow pets to sleep beside the baby
5. Be certain that all bedding follows the same safety guidelines as crib bedding- it should all be tight fitted, and baby safe. Comforter are dangerous with infants, dress warmly rather than bundling up on cooler nights. Keep only the pillow your head rests on in the bed... Etc, etc, etc.
Know that there is always more to learn about safety - read all the safety standards for infants and apply them with care and awareness. If your baby has a cold, or you are sick add to the vigilance or put them in a crib for the night. There are whole books on safety and co-bedding, so be aware that I am only highlighting the most critical I can think of, and that there are other special circumstances to be prepared for. Read! Read... and read some more. The more you know the safer your little one will be.
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