Curled up in bed with my 3 month old ~the most natural thing in the world, right? According to the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, I am being an unsafe mother. The Office has recently launched their new “Babies Sleep Safest Alone” campaign, to the dismay of bed sharing families statewide.
The campaign brings attention to the devastating deaths of infants who had been co-sleeping with a parent, sibling or caregiver. 89 such deaths were reported in NYS since 2006, but even one is one too many. The question lies in what caused the deaths. The state owes its constituents information. Were the adults involved practicing safe co-sleeping? The state, if they want to serve the public, should be instructing parents on safe practices, not using its voice to instill fear in parents and others who care about the well being of children.
Co-sleeping, when done safely is an enriching, comforting and beneficial, time tested sleep arrangement. But there are safe guidelines for parents to follow. You should not be sharing sleep with your infant or small child if you are overweight, a drinker, a smoker, drug user, sick, overtired, on medication, have a waterbed, extra soft or pillow top mattress, use blankets, comforters or pillows. Parents also need to think smart when it comes to gaps between the wall and bed and slats in headboards need to meet crib safety standards.
Research has shown that co-sleeping is extremely beneficial to the breastfeeding relationship. Babies digest breastmilk faster than formula, therefore needing more frequent feedings. This means more night feeding. Furthermore many experts agree that co-sleeping children are secure, independent, affectionate and well adjusted as they mature.
Babies and mothers are natural sleep partners, with mothers biologically prepared to attend to her infant’s needs. According to Thomas McDade and Dr. McKenna of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, “many studies similarly show that infant mammals, including human infants, appear to be pre-sensitised to receive sensory signals linking them to a co-sleeping partner. All have been shown to change infant physiology, including heart rate and breathing patterns including the cessation of excessive night-time crying”. (http://www.nhbreastfeedingtaskforce.org/mckenna_why_babies_should_n.pdf)
Ultimately, what it comes down to is this- if you don’t think you can stay tuned in to your infant’s needs all night, by all means, put your baby into a crib, bassinet or sidecar co-sleeper. You as a parent should have the right and exercise the right to make this decision nightly, or even hourly! The government should not be in the business of parenting. Become informed; know the safe practices of sleep sharing, and do what is best for you and your family. ~Sweet Dreams ~
For more information:
http://www.nd.edu/~jmckenn1/lab/faq.html
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp
McKenna, James J. & E. P., McDade, Thomas. (2005). Why babies should never sleep alone: A review of the co-sleeping controversy in relation to SIDS, bedsharing and breast feeding. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 6, 134-152
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