Sheryl,

<<  Many of our pediatricians
 specifically tell the patients not to sleep with their baby in order to
 prevent rolling on the baby and suffocating him or her. >>

How many of those pediatricians also recommend that all people should have
bars on the beds so they don't fall out?  We instinctively know when
something/someone else is in the bed with us, and don't roll on them/it.  You
can even snuggle up with a body pillow, and probably won't roll on top of it.
 Look at all of James McKenna's work (spoke at ILCA in 1994 or 95; will be at
the BSC conference next March in Nashville).

Someone (Margery Wilson?) mentioned an article in the August Parenting
Magazine that discusses prevention of SIDS, including the importance of
co-sleeping.

If the parents are alcoholics or drug abusers or mom is on heavy doses of
narcotic pain medication, I wouldn't recommend it.

Jan Barger