Is Co-Sleeping Dangerous?
In the last 10 weeks, four babies have died co-sleeping with their parents or grandparents in Milwaukee, and currently police are investigating a fifth death, of a two-month-old baby boy who died in his mother’s bed on Sunday.
I started reading the news report wondering what could cause so many tragic deaths in such a short time. I’ve always thought that responsible co-sleeping is safe and various respected pediatricians (such as Dr. Sears) and child-care experts (such as Elizabeth Pantley) agree. So what could be happening in Milwaukee? Should other parents in Wisconsin be scared?
The mom of the latest baby to die admitted to police that she had been drinking at a wedding the night her baby died. The previous baby to die in Milwaukee was a six-week old boy. His mother also admitted to drinking before falling asleep with the baby in her bed. Then there was a three-month-old boy who died sleeping on the couch with his grandmother. His grandmother told police she had drunk eight beers that night. And before that, a six-day-old baby girl died sleeping on a couch with her mother. Her mom told police that she was drunk the night before. (Her daughter was SIX DAYS OLD.)
There was only one baby of the five whose caregiver wasn’t drinking on the night her baby died. I read to the end of the report and I want to cry for those babies and I just can’t imagine what their parents were thinking.
I still think co-sleeping is safe, but only if it’s done safely. Not being drunk has to be one of the top safety tips for co-sleeping. Sleeping on a couch with a baby also seems to put a baby at greater risk.
Read More
Hugh says...
Hi,
I think you hit the nail on the head…dangerous co-sleeping/bed-sharing is dangerous, while safe co-sleeping/bed-sharing is safe. However, just how many cribs do you think telling the truth will sell? The true tragedy is that people who can/should impart the safety guidelines to the people who might be co-sleeping/bed-sharing in irresponsible ways are generally people who have never done it themselves…so why would they suggest something that they were unwilling, or unable to do themselves?
Thanks for your post, it is much needed!
Melissa H says...
This report breaks my heart right in two. As a mother who has successfully co-slept with my child I am appalled that a parent would go to bed with their child after drinking. You MUST be able to fully rouse at any moment when you are sleeping with your child. The idea of being drunk 6 days after your baby is born is as beyond my comprehension as it can get. How sad for these babies, who rely on the adults in their lives for everything…. including their security.
Dagmar Bleasdale says...
When done with care, and obviously not after you’ve been drinking, co-sleeping is best for mom and child. I have been co-sleeping from the first day with my son, and he is now 2 1/2. I wake up for a few seconds every time he moves, and check that he is fine, but it doesn’t disturb my sleep. Having to get up and check out if he is fine in a bed would be much more work. Since I breastfeed him, I also never have to get up and make him a bottle. It’s fantastic.
Dagmar Bleasdales last blog post..First Night Without Baby in Bed
Lisa B says...
I agree with responsible co sleeping. I have slept with all 3 of my babies because I was breastfeeding. Any time one of them would move I would wake up. If the baby is going to be sleeping in the bed with both parents neither one of the parents should come to bed impaired by alcohol or drugs. I love sleeping with my babies and so do they. My heart aches for the babies that have been smothered to death but at least we know they are home with Jesus.
Summer says...
Responsible cosleeping has to be the priority. I coslept with my babies, and am still cosleeping with my third. But sleeping with a baby while drunk, that’s a sign that cosleeping is dangerous. Just that these mothers were reckless.
Summer´s last blog ..Success And Failure