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Doctor insights on: Sids Co Sleeping

Please don't: The bigger problem is if you are sleeping that close together you could very easily end up on top of your infant and smother them. When you are in deep sleep you have no control of where your body will end up. Please find another alternative to both of you on the couch. ...Read more

Not known: The exact cause of sids is not known; however, there are risks now known. One of these is body position in bed. The idea behind back sleeping is that neck muscles and trunk muscles are not entirely formed so airway compromise can be more likely to occur and unlike in grown child or adult, babies cannot turn themselves over. ...Read more

Yes: A young baby sleeping face-up in a crib without fluffy blankets nor pillows around, without dangerous cords or strings nearby, will be safe there. His chances getting sids are low (998.5-999 out of 1000 babies won't have sids). Sleeping in a bed with an adult adds the risks of suffocation from blankets & pillows, from trapping the head at the mattress' edge, and from being squashed by the adult. ...Read more

Probably not: Fortunately, very few babies die of sids. Years ago in america, when babies slept on their tummies, about 3 babies out of every 1000 would die of sids. Nowadays, when babies sleep on their backs, about 1 to 1.5 babies per 1000 die of sids. So, the chances of not getting sids is better if sleeping on the back. Parents should talk with the doctor if a baby won't sleep on his/her back. ...Read more

Why ?: I limit initial blanket use for swaddling to the 1st month, or sooner when the baby accepts the additional freedom to move.I don't encourage blanket use again until a kid has the physical skills to stand up in his/her crib.There are in excess of 100 kids a year lost to suffocation events in the US, all avoidable if blankets, bumpers, pillows are excluded from young babies cribs. ...Read more

6 months: Sids is related to more than sleeping in a crib. For everyone's well-being, get baby out of a stroller for sleeping and into an empty crib with a firm mattress. No pillow, animals, blanket or bumper pads. Have her tummy-sleep. Don't smoke. Once she is rolling over consistently both ways, you can feel comfortable that sids is highly unlikely, usually by 6 months. The crib is the safest place! ...Read more

SIDS: By 4-5 months you baby is mobile enough so that sleeping on her side shouldn't be a problem. ...Read more

Worrisome: The last data I reviewed show side sleeping as risky as belly sleeping in the first 4 months of life.Unfortunately, if you pattern a baby to side or belly sleep in the first few days of life, they may resist back sleeping.During the early years of "back to sleep" I threatened to have baby nurses fired if I ever saw a newborn in these positions, it stopped and my babies accepted back sleep ...Read more

SIDS and apnea: Babies with apnea of prematurity are at a slightly increased incidence of sids but there is no link between obstructive sleep apnea and sids. The risk factors for sids do not overlap wth the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. ...Read more

Not the family bed: It is not specifically the familiy bed that leads to sids. And still despite risk factors there is not a known cause to the condition. Babies cannot protect the airway and should be free from loose clothing and bedding at night. Also parental or other siblings in bed may lead to infant injury, especially if those sharing bed have other illnesses or conditions. ...Read more