[joshs_girl]

So I went to my weekly support group meeting for new parents that I love, love, love and usually come away from it feeling uplifted and refreshed. It's a no-judgment zone and there are several other mothers there that co-sleep, so I feel safe talking about our sleeping choices.

Yesterday though was on child safety. They had a pediatric ER nurse there who in her hour long talk must have said at least ten times how dangerous co-sleeping was. She says she sees "tons" of suffocations resulting from co-sleeping and how it was just the worst risk you could take with your child.

The rational part of my brain wanted to ask her how many of those cases were parents who co-slept on a regular bases, how many of them involved being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, etc. But I knew she wouldn't know the answers.

The emotional part of my brain kicked in last night as we were all going to bed and I started freaking out that I was putting Miss M in danger. I know that we're doing it as "safely" as possible - she's on my side of the bed and in a sleep positioner. I sleep under my own blanket, not the bed covers and with a small pillow so doesn't come into contact with my pillow at all. She sleeps in a sleep sack with no blankets and now, our dogs don't even get on the bed anymore.

Anyway, anyone have any tips on how to make myself feel "safer" or any other suggestions, just to put my mind at ease? I just let this mis-informed person get to me yesterday I guess.

Although I can say that everything was made better this morning when I woke up to see her big blue eyes looking at me and a big smile on her face. I guess she'd been up for a few minutes and was busy playing with her hands while waiting for me to wake up

 

[mustangtbn]

"Tons" of suffocations from cosleeping? Really? It seems to me that if this nurse was seeing that many of them (and they were indeed all from co-sleeping), then then numbers of babies dying from cosleeping would be astronomical. Babies unfortunately die from unsafe sleeping conditions in cribs (and unsafe cribs) as well. I think most breastfeeding mothers who use safe co-sleeping conditions and are in tune with their baby's every movement and breath all night long are probably going to keep their babies safer than mothers who leave their babies alone and go sleep in another room. That's just my completely unqualified, non-expert opinion.

FWIW, my FIL is a news reporter and originally was a little concerned about our DD sleeping in our bed, due to all of the stories he's covered of babies being "suffocated while co-sleeping." We had a discussion about it, and the differences between safe vs. unsafe cosleeping conditions, and at the end of it I think he felt much better. He realized and said that in all the stories he's covered there hasn't been one where the parents were cosleeping safely, and most of the time drugs/alcohol use played a part as well. (Yes, I realize DH tells his parents WAY too much.)

 

[ians_mommy]

Nurses can exaggerate just like everyone else.
Not to mention, SIDS cases that occur in a family bed are often wrongly labled "suffocation" just because of the location.

 

[njbeachgirl]

I truly think your mama instincts will protect you and baby. Mamas and babies all over the world sleep together.

 

[Breeder]

I know how it is to get freaked out over something (no matter how untrue) so ((hugs)).

Here are somethings you can comfort yourself with: a) your baby has a tiny chance of suffocating. From your description there is nothing near her face, she is incapable of flipping over or scooting near anything to cause an "air dam" because of the sleep positioner (and the fact that at 2 mo she's probably not close to rolling over yet) and b) you are doing the best thing to reduce her chance of SIDS. Babies have irregular breathing, sleeping in close proximity to their mothers help to regulate their breathing immensely.

Want to further soothe yourself on this issue? Turn a fan on in the bedroom, this was recently shown to reduce the chance of SIDS as well.

BTW: Your DD is absolutely ADORABLE! (peeked at your blog)

 

[shanniesue2]

I wonder if they see more babies dying of "suffocation" in a co-sleeping situation or more babies dying of SIDS in a crib situation?

 

[shanniesue2]

This is from the AAP Journal

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or.../117/3/993.pdf

Quote:

In the United States, approximately half of the infants that die from sudden, unexpected death do so while sleeping with their parents.3-5

I guess that means that the other half dies from a sudden, unexpected death when they are sleeping separate from their parents?

 

[readytobedone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanniesue2 This is from the AAP Journal http://pediatrics.aappublications.or.../117/3/993.pdf I guess that means that the other half dies from a sudden, unexpected death when they are sleeping separate from their parents?

yes, but you know those babies would be twice as dead if they'd been sleeping with their parents!!!

 

[hatfieldsarah]

This is why I feel I have to move my LO into the crib tonight - so I share your fears! I really like co sleeping, but with it being winter and living in a cold, old house I am freaked out a blanket will smother him!

 

[mysticmomma]

sounds like you are cosleeping safely to me.

 

[MrsAprilMay]

I'm sorry she scared you!

Go look up some good McKenna research to ease your nerves.

 

[joshs_girl]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words mama! This morning I woke up to see my little girl babbling to her hands instead of screaming while she waits for me to come get her out of her crib ... that pretty much makes the decision for itself!