_Mothering_ magazine's very thorough coverage of this issue included
articles based on New Zealand research suggesting that babies whose mothers
smoked during pregnancy are at more risk from co-sleeping (what aspects?)
than babies of non-smokers.  Even researchers who were favorable to
co-sleeping said that they ask mothers who smoked during pregnancy to put
the baby back in the crib, after nursing in bed.

Due to my own "underdeveloped filing system" (great term, Jean -- thanks
for the laugh!) I can't lay my hands on the actual issue this very instant
so this is from memory.

So anyway, when I encourage mothers to bring their babies into bed with
them, I am careful to say (along with don't smoke in the house or at least
the bedrooms, try to shower before bedtime, etc.) that if they smoked
during pregnancy their baby might not be as robust and could be at more
risk.  I haven't the heart to discourage co-sleeping, but I do say to be
very very careful about bedding etc.
The sad thing is that the smoking parents (who tend to be low-income and
unmarried) are the ones who most need the extra sleep and cuddle time --
the two I spoke with last week are each home alone all day every day (in
this weather) with a newborn and a toddler, one with no car; no other
adults to even give mom a chance at taking a shower, 5-7 days a week.  And
the babies are colicky and sleep better with mom!
I would like to know more about the exact parts of co-sleeping that are
more dangerous for these babies than sleeping alone in a crib
is.  Proximity of adult(s)?  Proximity of adult who
smokes?  Pillows?  Mattress type?  Blankets?  Is there a way to modify the
sleep arrangements to lessen the risk?  This study was done in a Maori
population -- do the results hold true in other groups?  I suspect no one
knows any of these answers yet...

Has anyone else been following this aspect of the co-sleeping research, and
what do you say to parents who are smokers?

Elise
LLLL, IBCLC
Bath, New Hampshire
where each morning has been between 15 and 5 below, warmest part of the day
around 5 to 8 degrees F, and the school canceled ski day today.

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