In the July 1998, week 2 [#88] archives, Elaine writes....
    My mom called to say that in Pittsburgh, PA the District Attorney
    is launching an effort to get babies put to sleep in their cribs..........
and asks if someone locally would look into the matter......well.......

I'd like to let all you Lactnetters know that I brought this to my
supervisor's attention, who in turn discussed with Maternal &
Child Health . There is now a subcommittee of the CDRT(child death
review task force) to address co-sleeping.....Also many calls were
received by the police officer, as far away as Mississippi.....and she
is now very aware that not having a crib is not the only reason why
mothers have babies in their bed.

I'd also like to add that here in Pittsburgh, we have a high infant
mortality rate, particularly in the African-American community.
A non-profit group was formed several years ago to address this
problem, and the statistics have improved.....I do not have specifics
of any of the cases Elaine refered to at this time.

Finally, how does this relate to lactation??? Since I work with low-
income mothers, I often am working with a client who has many other
needs; so she could be working with other counselors and social service
groups. If one group is saying "absolutely never put your baby in bed" and I
am
asking if she is able to nurse lying down......the mother is getting conflict-
ing  information. It is my hope that safe co-sleeping education will be
included along with the provisions for cribs. The post by Elaine and the
calls to Pittsburgh  surely will make a difference here......three cheers for
the LACTNET :)

Jackie Cantley, BS IBCLC
Pittsburgh PA   WIC
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