Return-path: [log in to unmask] From: [log in to unmask] Full-name: LoganPeds Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 13:27:08 EDT Subject: Dr. Willam Carey's answer in Aug 99 issue To: [log in to unmask] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows sub 11 Dear Sirs: I wish to comment on Dr. Carey's answer to the question about a 9 week old infant who was not sleeping unless in contact with the mother found in your publication in Volume 16, Number 8, Page 34. I agree that making sure the infant was feeding well and gaining weight would be important in the assessment. I am also well aware of the AAP's recommendation for infants to sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS, and support back sleeping as the norm. However, it is quite normal for infants to sleep with their parents. "Setting limits" and enforcing separate sleeping in a 9-week-old makes no sense. Probably the majority of young infants in the world do sleep with their mothers. I would have asked the mother if she and the father slept well with the infant in bed with them; if so, then there is no need to move the baby to a crib. The infant needs contact with her mother; this is normal and desirable; the infant will merely transfer naturally and gradually to her own sleeping space at a later date when she is ready to do so. I would recommend that the mother try having the baby sleep on her back beside her in bed and allow her to breastfeed ad lib during the night. I would also reassure the mother that this baby needs lots of physical contact, that this is quite normal and desirable, and that pushing the baby to sleep on her own will only make everyone miserable. As long as mom, dad, and baby are happy bedsharing, then it should be encouraged. Giving the baby a gentle massage prior to sleep might also help her to relax. Dr. William Sears has written extensively on attachment parenting and the family bed. I would recommend that the mother of this infant read this literature. Sincerely, Linda L. Shaw MD FAAP General Pediatrics Altoona PA