Comments on: They’d Better Put Up My “Wanted” Poster

By: Nariya

Nariya — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:37:11 +0000

Forgive me if I’m getting this wrong, but they’re saying that “nearly half of babies who died while sleeping did so while co-sleeping”. Doesn’t that imply that “more than half of babies who died while sleeping did so while sleeping alone”? I’m pretty sure that those results don’t really imply a cause-and-effect situation. The small sample size is not helping their case. There are a lot of other safety issues that need to be considered, I think!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:57:34 +0000

We co-slept with both our daughters, which saved my sanity for sure - it made nursing so much easier and also made it so I could sleep at all - with my first i was so nervous that i would just lie awake wondering if she was ok in the bassinet, etc. We used a firm pad between my husband and me with “bumpers” on either side of it. We also put a side rail on my side of the bed once they got bigger and could sleep between me and the side rail. You just have to be careful not to have big fluffy pillows and comforters over the baby (I wore flannel pajamas to keep warm.) As for the mom who lost two kids to SIDS and they had both suffocated, i believe that is the cause of death of all SIDS babies - they stop breathing - regardless of whether they are sleeping alone or not. Most babies in most human societies sleep with their mothers. Only in ours would we criminalize it.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:40:32 +0000

My youngest daughter had a freak entrapment accident in our crib when she was only a few days old. She’s okay now, but I can’t bring myself to put her back in a crib just yet. I’ve been using a Moses basket when she naps, but we co-sleep at night. When we did the “safe” thing, she got hurt. Doing the “dangerous” thing, she’s doing great.

By: Eilish

Eilish — Sat, 03 May 2008 05:52:31 +0000

I think this is absolutely no one’s business except families. Why does the government even feel the need to offer their opinion? Isn’t this family business? If there is a concern, ask your pediatrician! He or she certainly knows more about you and your family than the LA County Certified Busybody Association.

My son didn’t co-sleep at night; he prefered to be swaddled in his cradle or crib. I did take naps with him in the bed and never worried about rolling over on him. He was pretty loud and plenty vocal when he was unhappy. I actually tried to put him in bed with us when he was tiny because I thought it would be nice. He would have none of it. My point is: for us it wasn’t the thing, for some it is. As a parent, you know more about your child than any well-intentioned government agency.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:04:23 +0000

We’ve co-slept with both of ours, and for us it was essential to anyone getting any shuteye at. all. Used a “sidecar” co-sleeper when they were very small, for safety’s sake — they transitioned to the crib after that, but even now generally spend part of the night cuddling with mom and dad.

By: Laura K

Laura K — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:43:31 +0000

I have five children - all breastfed and all co-slept. As a young mom I was concerned about “Rolling over and smothering” my baby. My doctor laughed. He explained to me, “You are sleeping but you are not unconscious. Do you ever roll OUT of bed? No - you don’t because although you are sleeping, your brain is still functioning and has an awareness of where you are.”

That was very reassuring to me and made perfect sense.

By: Bellamama

Bellamama — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:38:31 +0000

I have to admit I did a little co-sleeping when mine was smaller. Not all night, though. He loved his crib until the sun came up and then he always needed to be held. During the summer months the sun came up at five! I would bring him in with me for the last hour or two of sleep. I always felt pretty safe with him in with me, but I don’t roll and it was only for a little while.

I always swore I wouldn’t do it, it sounds so dangerous, but now it’s such a sweet memory. He only did it for about four months and would never do it now! He likes his space when he sleeps and adores his crib! I think it depends on the situation and the baby.

By: La Petite Acadienne

La Petite Acadienne — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:54:03 +0000

I don’t think I’d dare co-sleep. I’m an absurdly sound sleeper. I like to think that some inner sense would prevent me from blithely rolling over onto my child, but I don’t completely trust myself not to.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:15:22 +0000

I watched one of those HBO specials with Dr. Michael Baden the forensic specialist. A woman had lost two children to “SIDS” She was desperate to have another child but couldn’t bear to have another one die so she asked Dr. Baden to do an autopsy on the children. He found in both instances that the children had died of suffocation. Both tots were sleeping with mom when they died. I have co-slept with my nephews and nieces but we require certain safety procedures. There has to be a big barrier/lump/bump between the babe and adult to prevent accidental rollovers. My sister (the er nurse) prefers us to pull the basinet next to the bed and sleep with a hand on the baby instead of in the same bed. New moms can be so exhausted that they sleep too soundly. Once the child is two there isn’t a problem.

By: Glinda

Glinda — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:23:06 +0000

bobbie-sue- You’re right! I was totally wrong! I went back and read the article and edited to reflect.

I really should stop writing things so late at night. Then I might have some better reading comprehension!