Hi all.  I am giving the talk this week for our Nursing Mothers Group on
"Nursing and Nighttime Parenting."  I will discuss the whole range of
parenting techniques, letting the parents decide for themselves what will
work best for them.  Of course, I do stress the benefits of nursing on cue
and co-sleeping.

Recently I have seen a study making the rounds on internet newsgroups.  It
supposedly was a recent British study that compared co-sleepers and
non-co-sleepers with an eye toward the incidence of SIDS deaths.
Reportedly it linked co-sleeping *and smoking* with higher SIDS rates.
This is no surprise.  However it also reportedly showed *no benefit* if the
parents do not smoke.  In other words, for non-smokers co-sleeping did
*not* decrease the risk of SIDS at all!  I tried to access Medline and the
system seems to be "quirky."  So I left a note for the sysop and now turn
to you all.  Do you know of this study?  What does it really say?  What
references do you use to refute the "lack of benefit" found in this study?
I do not get any journals and such, so I know  of McKenna's work, but have
not read it myself nor do I have specific references for those who may be
interested in further research on this matter.

I know this will come up as the main part of the discussion each time seems
to be about sleeping arrangements.  Often both dads and moms come as they
disagree on the co-sleeping issue.  Each is trying to find proof that their
way is the right way.  So I am sure the topic will come up and I would like
to be able to address this study if it is specifically mentioned.  Private
responses might be best.  Thank you for your help!

Linda V., outside of Philadelphia
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