Warning for parents about SIDS

I remember when my daughter was first born.  I was so worried about sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.  I read everything I could about the does and don’ts of putting babies to bed, but I still worried and checked on Caroline so many times just to make sure she was ok.  Parents, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about here.

Today we got a fax from the Franklin County Coroner with a new warning about the dangers of co-sleeping with infants.  Dr. Brad Lewis writes, “within the last week, four infants have been brought to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office for autopsy.  All were one to two months old.  All were presumably healthy children.  All were co-sleeping with a parent or parents at the time they died.“  Dr. Lewis is asking all parents to be aware of the dangers of sleeping with your children, and to be aware of the increased risk of SIDS associated with co-sleeping.

This is so scary and breaks my heart.  I tell you, if there is one thing I have learned in life, it’s that if I never feel the pain of losing a child I will have no complaints in this world.  It is a crippling pain.  I have interviewed parents who have lost children in accidents, war, crimes and to various diseases.  They are the hardest interviews I have ever done and will ever do.  Sometimes parents are able to embrace a cause to prevent future deaths and use their loss to benefit others.  Sometimes, they can’t move forward.  Regardless, I don’t think you ever recover.  How could you?

Today we are working on this latest warning from the Franklin County Coroner, and will bring you the full report on First at 4.  This is important to us at NBC 4 and we want all parents to have the latest information on co-sleeping with children.  But this is tough subject.  I have friends who swear by co-sleeping.  Yes, you definitely have to be careful anytime and anywhere you put a baby down to sleep, but I have friends who absolutely love sleeping with their children.  And I can’t deny it, I did it myself when Caroline was first born.  I also have friends who would never sleep with their children.  Some are scared to and others just want their baby to sleep alone in the crib from day one.

Safety is first, absolutely.  But I think this is interesting and brings up a bunch of different theories on raising babies in those first few months.  So what do you think and what works or has worked for you and your children?  I’d love to hear from you all.  I’m also including a link to some great information on SIDS. 

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html

I just want to add that I loved sleeping with my son for the first 3 months of his life.  We purchased a co-sleeper that we put in between us that he slept in.  It protected him from either of us and we were very careful with blankets and pillows.  However, as a nursing mom it made life so much easier.  He would wake up, eat, we would change his diaper and then back to sleep he would go.  I never had those nights of up all night with a crying baby because he never awoke fully to get upset.  I realize I am one of the lucky parents who had an AWESOME experience with co-sleeping and my heart breaks for the parents who have had a bad experience but it is and will be the only way to go in my house!

It amazes me that they still dont know what cause’s SIDS I lost a son 17 years ago to SIDS he was 8 weeks old.. It is so devasting, and noone can answer any of your questions.. Why Why Why….. I hope at some point through research they find what cause’s SIDS and puts a stop to it…Stop the guessing, and come up with real anwers..

My brother is a police officer, I remember him calling me, upset, right before my son was born.
“please make sure, you put your baby in their own crib” he said, and went on to tell me about a baby, found dead in the morning, by a mother, who had fallen asleep with the baby and accidentally smothered.  He was shaken, and unfortunately, he has seen this before, and since.  I know we are all tired, but take that time to put them down safely, and we will all sleep better.

Thank you to everyone who has visited and left comments.  What a highly emotional and controversial issue.  There are many people and organizations who swear by the benefits of co-sleeping, and others who discourage against it for safety reasons.  Let’s be honest, you can read all the books you want to prepare for the arrival of “baby,“ but in the end you do what works for you and what feels right.  Our daughter slept with us the first two months of her life and then transitioned to her crib.  We purchased a “co-sleeper” that attached to our bed and it was perfect for us.  However, I will admit that even though we had the co-sleeper there were many nights she fell asleep in my arms and I fell asleep with her.  Looking back, I miss those moments and I’m glad we were able to share them, because they were special.  Yet, I’m not sure I got much sleep, because I was always worried about her rolling into me or me rolling on top of her.  Know what I mean?  I don’t have the answers, but I think it’s great that we can have a genuine conversation about this, and regardless of what works or has worked for you, I completely respect your opinion.

Ellie

Hannah was in her bassinet from day 1…then into her crib. I did fall asleep with her in the recliner numerous times on accident…but I never really slept deeply there because as soon as she would twitch I was awake and laying her down in her crib. So that I could get some good sleep as well.

That being said, I was always scared to death to co-sleep. Being in Law Enforcement, I have seen the worse case scenarios that come with co-sleeping. I know that I would NOT get a winks sleep if she were laying next to me.

I, also, have a friend who swears by co sleeping…I hope that she saw the segment on today’s show. At the least, she might get some information that she did not know before. Information is power.

Does anyone know at what age SIDS is no longer a threat? I still check on Hannah if I wake up in the middle of the night….maybe I am paranoid or maybe just knowing she is safe and sound makes me feel better…

I am glad that you covered the topic on the show today. While it is controversial, it needs to be discussed and people need to be educated!

i just wonder if parents co-slepp with their children, to fullfill their own needs, and not the needs of the baby. Babies do not need to sleep with an adult. I believe that sleeping in the own bed, teaches them that they can have their own space and help them to learn a bedtime routine. I have friends who has coslept withtheir children and it seems to be a dependency the parents have on their children. They just dont want to let the baby out of reach. I truelly love and adore my children, but I would never put their safety at risk, just so I could snuggle.

OSU will give your newborn a pacifier, and the reason being is because of SIDS. When our daughter was born she had come into the room from the nursery with a pacifier in her mouth, wellmy other 2 never did the pacifier thing, so naturally I did not want this one to either. The nurse began to tell me how they are a “non-binky” nursery but a SIDS organization advised them on how pacifiers really work. Granted they do soothe the baby but also they say it helps prevent SIDS. The continious sucking helps the baby swallow saliva and contine to breathe. IF the baby stops sucking the saliva builds up and the child swallows the saliva helping to prevent SIDS. Just some info I thought was rather interesting.

I think what is most important to remember is that everyone has different reasons for doing what they do and it isnt necessarily a selfish thing.  Again, I co-slept with my son for 3 months and it had nothing to do with me being selfish.  In truth, from a biological and developmental standpoint it is what is most natural and developmentally best for human beings.  It is actually quite unnatural to have an infant come home from the hospital and into a crib by themselves.  So, again, what is most important is that people do what is right for their families.