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 *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome