The statistics do not say that co-sleeping "causes" SIDS, but that  
babies who co-sleep are statistically
more likely to die of SIDS, which is indeed defined as unexplained.

Similarly, it is said that SIDS is statistically more likely in homes  
with smokers and statistically less
likely among breastfed babies. That doesn't mean that smoking causes  
SIDS or that breastfeeding
prevents it per se, but that based on population studies there seem to  
be these statistical correlations.

Naomi

On Jun 28, 2008, at 8:44 AM, LACTNET automatic digest system wrote:

> Color me confused.
> How can co-sleeping ever be blamed for SIDS?
> SIDS is the sudden and *Unexplained* death of an infant aged one  
> month to
> one year.  If it's a co-sleeping death due to overlaying, unsafe  co- 
> sleeping
> practices, etc, then its not an *unexplained death an therefore   
> can't be SIDS.

------------------------------------------
Naomi Bar-Yam Ph.D.
Executive Director
Mothers' Milk Bank of New England

[log in to unmask]
617-964-6676
www.milkbankne.org
------------------------------------------

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