back to sleep

[Guest guest]

Amy,

You are wise to put to sleep on back, for the reasons you point out.

Please be aware, though, that the wedges designed to keep babies on their backs

or sides are not safe, either. The best thing is to put your baby to sleep on

his back. If he rolls over, you can put him back, but do not put a wedge,

pillow, comforter or anything like that in the crib with him. A wedge is

basically a pillow, and there have been cases of babies suffocating with them.

They are a marketing gizmo that is not recommended by SIDS researchers, though I

know they are prominently displayed and promoted at baby stores everywhere.

Their are claims made on such products that are not true and have not been

tested. Bumper pads are the same -- they might be cute but they are potentially

dangerous, yet are sold by baby stores everywhere as a " necessary " part of the

nursery.

And, yes, once baby can roll over by himself, the risk is reduced. While all

the reasons that back sleeping has so dramatically reduced the SIDS rate are

unclear, it is clear that a baby sleeping on tummy with soft bedding, pillows,

comforters, bumber pads, etc, and unable to roll over, is at the most risk.

Once baby can roll over, the risk goes down but does not disappear.

Many parents will say that their baby prefers sleeping on their tummy, or that

they sleep better on their tummy, etc. I guess only the parent can decide the

level of risk they feel comfortable with, once they know the evidence. I will

say that one of the theories of why tummy sleepers have a higer rate of SIDS is

that they can indeed sleep deeper, sometimes too deep and for unknown reasons

die.

Another point to consider is that back sleeping may serve an adaptive purpose,

and this may be why it increases suvivability. This is not " proven " but there

is apparently anthropological research going on investigating this idea. The

idea being that back sleepers wake more, therefore get fed and held more, more

attention , etc., which as well, know, helps babies develop physically and

emotionally. Babies are supposed to wake up and eat frequently, this makes them

grow, etc. Also, waking and startling, as many back sleepers do , helps babies

learn to organize their bodies and respond to the startle reflex in a natural

way, much like being carried in a sling and adapting their bodies to mom's

movements helps them. There are many other ideas along these lines but I'm

probably boring all you by this point.

Before having kids, I worked on several research projects studying SIDS for five

years, working with my brother-in-law, a neonatologist, SIDS researcher, and

director of the MASS. SIDS Center. Both my kids slept on their backs and with

, I removed from his crib everything, even his bumper pads. They are

adorable but not worth the risk.

Margaret

davidfeb98@... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/7/00 2:35:26 AM Central Daylight Time,

> breastfeedingegroups writes:

>

> << I also know that there are times when doctors advise side

> or stomach sleeping for children with certain health conditions. >>

>

> Yes that is true in VERY premature infants and with children with VERY BAD

> reflux but a healthy infant should not be put on there tummy. SIDS also peeks

> at 2-4 months so to say taht she can roll over she is safe I wouldn't go that

> far. I had in a little wedge thing wll past 4 months so he coudln't

> roll over while he was sleeping. The rate of SIDS has gone done so much

> since the back to sleep campain has been out that there isn't a dought in my

> mind that some of the baby's died needlessly due to tummy sleeping. I woudl

> say I am not trying to scare anyone. But you should be worried. My comfort

> leave doesn't allow me to do anythign that would put my baby at a great

> danger of being hurt or killed. I knwo some parents are less causious but I

> know I could NEVR forgive myslef if somthign happened to and it was

> somthing I could have prevented. I guess taht is why we have every form of

> child proofing possable and I never take my eyes off of him. But hey he's

> safe.

>

> Amy