I did some rough calculations as part of an email "discussion" with a reactionary Philly reporter. " The stats are crude and do not take into account confounders like breastfeeding, smoking, socioeconomic level, etc. Approximately 4,000,000 births a year in the US (source:CDC data for 2002 ) 10% cosleep (2004 Sleep in America Poll by the National Sleep Foundation). We'll be conservative and say 5% which makes 200,000 cosleepers, 3,800,000 crib sleepers. 180 deaths over 2 years in the cosleepers (source:US Consumer Product Safety Commission) so 90 deaths in 1 year = 0.045% 2000-2500 SIDS deaths. Subtracting all cosleeper deaths = 1820 to 2320 SIDS deaths in crib sleepers = 0.048% to 0.06% Comparing just SIDS deaths in crib sleepers (and not the few but real deaths due to an identifiable cause like suffocation or strangling, etc.) to all-cause mortality in cosleepers suggests equivalent mortality rates at least, and possibly a survival advantage to cosleeping. So, actually, I would say that there are numbers which show it had the potential to be just as dangerous or worse to sleep in a crib. " *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html