After reading as much as I could on the topic, there really is not enough clearly defined 
studies to warrant a statistical meta-analaysis. What people forget when they give far too 
much power to statistics is that if the basic definitions are flawed and the basic principals 
of science of challenging your own hypotheses are not followed --- the studies become 
meaningless.

One must start with clear cut hypothesis and challenge the underlying assumptions.  At 
this point in time --- the data do not exist to support a true statistical meta-analysis of 
safe sleep studies.  Statistics are only as good as the underlying assumptions.  Just like 
the numbers on the weighing scale are only as good as the many other observations of 
the feeding and the baby --- not to be used in isolation.  In actually this means that a 
solid understanding of physiology and cultural practices MUST inform research.  James 
McKenna has provided as good an analysis of the available evidence as is possible.  
Further studies without clear definitions are not going to provide us with good evidence no 
matter what the sample size is or the p-values are.  

Here at least in Lactnet, I would appreciate clear cut definitions of the sleeping 
environment as a start to a more meaningful discussions.  Sloppy definitions lead to 
sloppy science.

And with inadequate data --- the claims that cosleeping is dangerous (and I would argue 
that even the poor data we have right not suggests just the opposite) have no more 
credibility than the opposite. Bed sharing and cosleeping are not interchangeable terms 
and we of all professions have a responsibility to stop this misuse of language.

Best, Susan

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