As I work in Public Health, AND raised my children during the time that we
were told to put them to sleep on their tummies or they will choke, I have
to deal with the "don't do as I did, but as I say"...

Well, just as many have had to teach about breastfeeding who have not
breastfed, I explain to moms how, when I was in Australia (thanks, ILCA -
what a conference!) I SAW how different an infant's throat anatomy is - how
when my husband lies down, he actually BLOCKS his windpipe (and snores like
a ....) - but an infant's throat actually opens up more when on the
back...and the fact that babies sleep LESS deeply - is ALSO probably
protective...

I also explain about safety - about what should or not be in the crib (can
someone PLEASE add your letter to mine and address the decorators in the
Home and Garden shows that fill those cribs full of fluffy, dangerous
"decorations"???).

Having explained all this, I have had grandmas INSIST I take a second
picture of their granddaughters in the correct position, I have had
college-graduate moms admit that they had not followed the back to sleep
instructions until I explained it.  

Just like with breastfeeding - WE have to be convinced this is the RIGHT
information - or else we seem "wishy-washy" and moms, sensing that, go to
what THEY are used to.  

California went to "back to sleep" (even recommending NO side-lying) before
most other states - and the death rate in this state dipped much quicker
than the others'  It is a "population" issue - we won't see results among
small numbers of babies/families - because, thank goodness, there aren't a
lot of babies that die - but the ones that do are (at least in my county)
more likely to be formula fed AND sleeping on their tummies.

OF COURSE we will know of many, many babies that slept on their tummies and
"did just fine"...we also hear of many, many babies (including me) that "did
just fine" not breastfeeding - but would we ever NOT promote breastfeeding?

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
California

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