Do Infant Suffocation Stats Change Your View of Co-Sleeping?

January 27, 2009

When it comes to putting baby down to bed, the majority of lilsugar readers said they don't mind sharing their mattress with their mini me. Fifty-one percent of you are for co-sleeping, but a recent study by the CDC reported that infant suffocation, which is tied to bed sharing, has quadrupled in the last twenty years.

Does this sway your opinion?

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12 Comments

3 years

'stats aren't reported in other countries' so you're taking that as proof that co-sleeping in done safely in other countries??? do you know how many babies die in 'other' countries??? just because something has been done for centuries doesn't mean it is safe. 80% of people in this world also have to live in crammed two roomed huts and yes, have to sleep with their babies and I am sure some babies die too. Being one of the moms who rolled on their 8 week old baby and was seconds away from killing him, I never slept with any of my four babies from that moment on. the dangers far outweigh the benefits. there are SO many other ways to foster closeness with your child.

3 years

One must remember that stats are for babies born in the USA. co-sleeping is practiced safely in so many other countries..probably they don't report numbers... but its been done for centuries... and considered safe and better for bonding with baby.

phatE 4 years

it's baffling to me that some of you feel that the increase in suffocation over the past 20 years isn't related to the increase in co-sleeping.. 20 years ago co-sleeping wasn't as common,, babies slept on their stomachs more, had bumpers and blankets in their cribs, etc.. today, because of SIDS babies sleep on their backs { and end up having to wear ridiculous helmets}. don't have the bumpers on their crib, nor do they sleep with blankets or stuffed animals until a certain age. on an issue this serious, it's scary to see the denial of some of you.. well-meaning parents don't realize that in the first few months exhaustion can cause you to not wake up, or realize when something has gone wrong that you would typically wake to immediately. it's also scary to hear that convenience is another main factor in co-sleeping. i don't understand why i bassinet right next to the bed is not convenient enough? yes,you have to move a foot or two but really ppl just suck it up. i am being harsh, but to those who said "we had no problems" i am so glad, b/c the ones that did are the ones that are apart of this statistic. don't chance it guys, it's not just the "bad parents" that have things like this happen.. it only take a second for you to accidentally move a sheet or yourself, etc without even realizing it. parents of infants are exhausted.. they need to not assume they'd react as if they were well rested. when you sleep you're not aware, and this study is the perfect example of that.

phatE 4 years

tfergusonx4 4 years

i feel safer when my baby is in the bed with me where as if she is in her own bed. with my oldest i found myself getting no sleep at night bc i was always checking to see if she was ok. but once i put her in the bed with me and i could feel and hear her beside me i knew she was safe.

kindo1313 4 years

Bedsharing (technically, co-sleeping means sleeping in the same room as baby) is safe when done correctly and even can lower your baby's risk of SIDS. Not keeping loose blankets or sheets near your baby is part of doing it safely, though. So is not drinking or taking any type of medication that may make you drowsy. I believe that there are many physical and psychological benefits to bedsharing; plus, my baby and I both sleep better when we sleep together, so it really is a no-brainer for me.

mstrauss 4 years

Beyond the statistics, co-sleeping is just not a great idea. Although I do understand that it is easier with breadstfeeding, don't you want your baby to get used to sleeping in a crib, bassinet, whatever? For the first few months, we had to sleep with our son on top of us and it was awful and it felt dangerous! My friend told me that she was breastfeeding her baby and they both fell asleep, and when she woke up, her baby was under the sheets!!! As much as you think you will wake up to that kind of stuff, sleep is still sleep and you are not aware of what is going on around you!

CaterpillarGirl 4 years

I wonder why Black Male babies are the most affected by this statistic, thats strange.

princessAlexi 4 years

I have co-slept with all of my kids, it is just so much easier for nursing, and I've never had a problem with it.

Jessiebanana 4 years

No way I sleep too hard. I generally don't move (I sleep next to my laptop with the screen up), but I don't feel comfortable that I would wake up %100 if I did move on top of them.

Jessiebanana 4 years

No way I sleep too hard. I generally don't move (I sleep next to my laptop with the screen up), but I don't feel comfortable that I would wake up %100 if I did move on top of them

bluepuppybites 4 years

I co-slept with my daughter for her first 3 months. When you're nursing it's easier. But if I was super tired I put her in her playpen/bassinet thing and let her sleep there. But I loved to take naps with her. With this new one on the way, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that since our daughter is going to be graduating to a big girl bed and will be able to get up as she pleases, so I will have to worry about that.

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