We always hear the scare stories about babies being smothered by sleeping with parent(s). What about the babies that are harmed by being in mom's arms when she falls asleep sitting up? I know of one case where a baby got a cracked skull (no apparant brain damage at the time) becuase mom dozed off sitting up in a chair (room had a hard floor). The same individuals who know about that case also know of one where dad (who had been drinking) fell asleep with baby and rolled over on baby who subsequently died. Now which one is the only one they remember? I think once people set an opinion in their head, they only tend to remember the incidents that prove their pre-set opinion unless they are open to learning something new. I made a point to mention after the dropped baby incident that if mom had been lying next to baby it wouldn't have happened. (Not to the mother who probably felt bad enough already, but to staff.) Fortunately, we don't have a specific policy. When I first started at this hospital 12 or so years ago, everyone got upset when they would find a baby in bed with a sleeping mom. Over the years it has become more acceptable. We teach SAFE sleeping wherever that occurs. I tell moms that as long as they haven't been drinking, aren't taking anything that makes them abnormally sleepy or unaware of their surroundings, and aren't in a waterbed (although I know that's debatable), they are probably safer falling asleep next to baby than sitting up where baby could roll off the lap. We also point out that there shouldn't be any fluffy pillows or blankets near baby's face. Dress baby warmly enough that covers aren't needed. I can't count how many moms over the years have told the same story-They faithfully got up for all night feedings with their first. Then when the second came along and they got even less sleep, they all report a time when they started to doze off waking in time to catch baby as she/he was about to roll off their lap. From that time on and with any subsequent babies, they either spent the night with baby in bed or brought baby to bed with the first waking and either kept them there or returned baby to crib when mom woke later. Winnie Mading *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html