I have been following, with great interest, the thread
on co-sleeping.  I work as a hospital-based LC, and
this week have had 2 sets of parents make inquiries
about whether this was "okay".

One scenario:  I visited a first-time mom who asked me
if it was okay for her to hold the baby up on her
naked chest(!!) According to Mom, one of the
postpartum staff (nurse? nurses' assistant?) told this
mom that it was "safer" for the baby to be on his back
in the plastic box---<HEAVY SIGH>.  I was very happy
to be able to tell her that her desire/instinct to
hold her baby skin-to-skin was precisely the RIGHT
thing to do, that he would be much safer, and happier,
held close to his mama!

One risk factor in co-sleeping I did not see
mentioned: parental obesity.  I have read material to
indicate that, in a very obese person, cutaneous
sensation is diminished, which can lead to decreased
awareness of any object in the bed, including an
infant.  This, coupled with a softer, looser body
habitus, can be a risk factor for infant suffocation
during co-sleeping. Does anyone have any studies on
this?

Thanks to all who are contributing to this fascinating
discussion!!  I am, once again, amazed by the wisdom!

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