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Subject:
From:
Lisa Marasco IBCLC <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 12 Sep 1998 17:02:56 -0700
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>>Ezzo contends that co-sleeping actually increases the risk of
SIDS (says that the AAP agrees with this contention) and cites cases of
overlying as proof.  My question is:  if there has been overlying and
therefore suffocation of a breastfeeding/co-sleeping infant, then is it
SIDS??
Or is it a *known* cause- suffocation- and therefore has no place in the
"statistics" of SIDS deaths?<<

Lisa, you've asked an excellent question that highlights the shallow
understanding of SIDS issues on the part of the Babywise authors. Overlying
and SIDS are NOT the same, therefore it is inappropriate to suggest that
co-sleeping is a danger that causes SIDS.

Furthermore, the issue of warmer/cooler climates may well tie in to research
showing that SIDS occurs more often in winter than summer (in the U.S., I
believe). The theory is that perhaps overheating may be a contributing
factor, and that parents may overwrap a baby then place him face down, which
traps heat, and from where he may not be able to turn over to cool off.
But, these are not the only factors!  Dr. Sear's book on SIDS talks about
the many risk factors, both theoretical and proven: cigarette smoking, prone
sleeping position, lack of breastfeeding, separate sleep, prematurity, etc.

In regards to Ezzo's citation of the AAP saying that co-sleeping was
condemned by the AAP, in actuality the AAP had James McKenna present some of
his research to them last year, after which the AAP noted that the
information to date was inconclusive (but NOT invalidated!).  Leave it to
the Ezzos to jump on anything that sounds like it backs their position and
capitalize it; they do this often throughout the book.  The problem?  The
parents don't know what we know, and trust the information presented in
Babywise/PREP to be true.

Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC

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